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Drive or Fly: Charlotte, NC to Dunn, NC?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 29m

Distance

158.3 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

64 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33
Hotel (1 room, 0 nights) $0
Meals (1 pax, 1 day) $35
+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines
+ Comfortable one-day drive
+ Stop anywhere along the route
+ Have your own car at the destination
+ Likely faster door-to-door than flying
− Wear and tear on vehicle
− Fuel price fluctuations
Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 5m

15m in the air

Air Distance

126 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 15m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
FAY → Dunn, NC 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Charlotte, NC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive
Dunn, NC FAY — Fayetteville Regional Airport - Grannis Field 27 mi, ~40m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

90.9%

Cancellation

9.1%

+ Less physical fatigue
+ Predictable arrival time
− Airport security and check-in overhead
− Luggage fees and restrictions
− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 3h 29m 3h 5m
Total cost (1 person) $68 $125
Carbon footprint 64 kg CO2 32 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 91% on-time
Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices
Flight data: Statistical estimate
Airports: OurAirports
Confidence: Medium — airports identified, fares estimated

Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
158.3 mi 3h 28m

via US 74, I 295, US 1

Shortest (+9 min)
154.7 mi 3h 38m

via NC 49, US 421, US 421; NC 27

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Charlotte, NC to Dunn, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.