Drive or Fly: Flagstaff, AZ to El Mirage, AZ?

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 35m

Distance

142.9 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

58 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

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 57m

14m in the air

Air Distance

116 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Flagstaff, AZ → FLG 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHX → El Mirage, AZ 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Flagstaff, AZ FLG — Flagstaff Pulliam Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

El Mirage, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 50m

2h 25m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Flagstaff, AZ → Flagstaff Train Station (UFG) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 145m

Arrival 10m

Phoenix Glendale (59th Ave / W. Hayward) (0GD) → El Mirage, AZ 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From UFG — Flagstaff Train Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 0GD — Phoenix Glendale (59th Ave / W. Hayward) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	2h 35m	2h 57m	3h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	58 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	8 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 20, 2026.

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