Drive or Fly: Charlotte, NC to Fearrington Village, 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

2h 47m

Distance

114.6 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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

2h 50m

13m in the air

Air Distance

106 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Fearrington Village, NC 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Charlotte, NC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Fearrington Village, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.2%

Cancellation

1.8%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 50m

2h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$24

CO2

7 kg

Route

Piedmont

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 155m

Arrival 10m

Durham Amtrak Station → Fearrington Village, NC 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

Estimated based on distance. Check amtrak.com for current prices.

Stations

From Charlotte Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Durham Amtrak Station 17 mi, ~25m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 11 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 37m

2h 45m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus N2471

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 165m

Arrival 10m

Chapel Hill, NC (CPH6) → Fearrington Village, NC 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

Estimated based on distance. Check flixbus.com for current prices.

Stations

From CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To CPH6 — Chapel Hill, NC 12 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 47m	2h 50m	3h 50m	3h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$24	$12
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus GTFS — fares estimated

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.

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