Drive or Fly: Charlotte, NC to Wilsons Mills, 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 40m

Distance

160.1 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 14m

17m in the air

Air Distance

142 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → CLT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Wilsons Mills, NC 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Wilsons Mills, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 32 mi, ~47m 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

5h 1m

4h 1m on rail

Total Cost

$29

CO2

8 kg

Route

Carolinian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlotte, NC → Charlotte Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 241m

Arrival 10m

Selma → Wilsons Mills, NC 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From Charlotte Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Selma 6 mi, ~10m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 40m	3h 14m	5h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$126	$29
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	8 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 — 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

160.1 mi 3h 39m

via NC 49, US 64; NC 49, NC 540 Toll

Alternative (+2 min)

165.5 mi 3h 42m

via NC 27, NC 24; NC 27; NC 109, NC 540 Toll

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