Drive or Fly: Douglas, AZ to Phoenix, 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

4h 32m

Distance

236.8 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

96 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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

5h 1m

25m in the air

Air Distance

207 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Douglas, AZ → TUS 146m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → Phoenix, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Douglas, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 98 mi, ~146m drive

Phoenix, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 15m

2h 50m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Douglas, AZ → Benson Visitors Center (BSN6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Phoenix Bus Station (PHX6) → Phoenix, AZ 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From BSN6 — Benson Visitors Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PHX6 — Phoenix Bus Station 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 32m	5h 1m	4h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$183	$16
Carbon footprint	96 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: 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 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Douglas, AZ to Phoenix, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.