Drive or Fly: Collierville, TN to Union City, TN?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MEM–PAH. At 132 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 36m

Distance

132.6 mi

Total Cost

$64

CO2

54 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$29

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 48m

12m in the air

Air Distance

101 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Collierville, TN → MEM 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PAH → Union City, TN 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Collierville, TN MEM — Memphis International Airport 18 mi, ~26m drive

Union City, TN PAH — Barkley Regional Airport 47 mi, ~70m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MEM and PAH. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 56m

2h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

City of New Orleans

Door-to-Door Timeline

Collierville, TN → Memphis 35m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 143m

Arrival 10m

Fulton Amtrak Station → Union City, TN 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Memphis 23 mi, ~35m drive

To Fulton Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~18m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 36m	3h 48m	3h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$64	$124	$23
Carbon footprint	54 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

132.6 mi 2h 35m

via I 40, US 45W, I 269

Shortest (+4 min)

117.2 mi 2h 40m

via US 51, I 269, US 70; US 79

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Collierville, TN to Union City, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.