Drive or Fly: Charlotte, NC to Franklinton, 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 25m

Distance

168.6 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 4m

18m in the air

Air Distance

147 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Franklinton, NC 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Franklinton, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.5%

Cancellation

1.5%

+ 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

4h 50m

3h 10m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

10 kg

Route

Piedmont

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Amtrak Station (CLT) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 190m

Arrival 10m

Raleigh Union Station (RGH) → Franklinton, NC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From CLT — Charlotte Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To RGH — Raleigh Union Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 40m

6h 15m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 375m

Arrival 10m

Henderson (Rosemart 206) (HDN6) → Franklinton, NC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To HDN6 — Henderson (Rosemart 206) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	3h 25m	3h 4m	4h 50m	7h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$126	$26	$17
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

168.6 mi 3h 25m

via I 85, I 40, I 85; NC 86 Truck

Alternative (+35 min)

174.4 mi 4h 0m

via US 1, NC 27, NC 24; NC 27; NC 109

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