Drive or Fly: Middlesex, NC to Salem, 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 RDU–PGV. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

46m

Distance

35.3 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 58m

4m in the air

Air Distance

29 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Middlesex, NC → RDU 50m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PGV → Salem, NC 64m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Middlesex, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

Salem, NC PGV — Pitt-Greenville Airport 43 mi, ~64m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RDU and PGV. 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

1h 42m

17m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Carolinian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Middlesex, NC → Wilson 26m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 17m

Arrival 10m

Rocky Mount → Salem, NC 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Wilson 17 mi, ~26m drive

To Rocky Mount 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 40m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0654s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Middlesex, NC → Wilson Bus Stop (WSN6) 26m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Rocky Mount Bus Stop (ROM6) → Salem, NC 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From WSN6 — Wilson Bus Stop 17 mi, ~26m drive

To ROM6 — Rocky Mount Bus Stop 13 mi, ~19m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	46m	3h 58m	1h 42m	1h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$3	$2
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	1 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, 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

35.3 mi 46m

via US 64, Red Oak Road, NC 231

Alternative (+3 min)

41.1 mi 50m

via I 95, US 264, Red Oak Road

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