Drive or Fly: Colorado City, AZ to Tempe, AZ?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 32m

Distance

380.2 mi

Total Cost

$115

CO2

154 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$80

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 26m

31m in the air

Air Distance

254 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colorado City, AZ → SGU 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Tempe, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Colorado City, AZ SGU — St George Regional Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

Tempe, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.7%

Cancellation

1.3%

+ Saves about 4h 6m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 32m	3h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$115	$185
Carbon footprint	154 kg CO₂	65 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

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 Colorado City, AZ to Tempe, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.