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Drive or Fly: Kings Grant, NC to Concord, NC?

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 ILM–USA. At 202 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 17m

Distance

202.5 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

82 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

2h 42m

21m in the air

Air Distance

173 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kings Grant, NC → ILM 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 21m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
USA → Concord, NC 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Kings Grant, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive
Concord, NC USA — Concord-Padgett Regional Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ILM and USA. 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
May need a rental car at destination
Luggage fees and restrictions
Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 19m

6h 15m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0660s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kings Grant, NC → Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit (WNC6) 10m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 375m
Arrival 10m
Charlotte Bus Station (CLT6) → Concord, NC 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From WNC6 — Wilmington Cape Fear Public Transit 1 mi, ~10m drive
To CLT6 — Charlotte Bus Station 19 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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 17m 2h 42m 7h 19m
Total cost (1 person) $80 $182 $20
Carbon footprint 82 kg CO2 44 kg CO2 11 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: 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
202.5 mi 4h 16m

via US 74; US 76, US 74, US 74; NC 130

Alternative (+4 min)
205.1 mi 4h 21m

via US 74; US 76, US 74, US 74; NC 130

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Kings Grant, NC to Concord, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.