Drive or Fly: Charlotte, NC to Norwood, 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 20m

Distance

115.8 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

47 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 54m

12m in the air

Air Distance

100 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Norwood, NC 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Norwood, NC GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 22 mi, ~32m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.1%

Cancellation

2.9%

+ 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 9m

1h 29m on rail

Total Cost

$16

CO2

7 kg

Route

Piedmont

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 89m

Arrival 10m

Greensboro → Norwood, NC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From Charlotte Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Greensboro 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 5m

1h 40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 100m

Arrival 10m

Greensboro Bus Stop (GBO6) → Norwood, NC 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

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

To GBO6 — Greensboro Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~22/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

− 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 20m	2h 54m	3h 9m	3h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$124	$16	$9
Carbon footprint	47 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

115.8 mi 2h 20m

via I 85, US 29; US 220, US 29

Shortest (+1 min)

115 mi 2h 22m

via I 85, US 29; US 70, US 29; US 220

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