Drive or Fly: Red Boiling Springs, TN to Memphis, TN?

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

5h 24m

Distance

281 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69

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

4h 4m

30m in the air

Air Distance

254 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Red Boiling Springs, TN → BNA 81m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MEM → Memphis, TN 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Red Boiling Springs, TN BNA — Nashville International Airport 54 mi, ~81m drive

Memphis, TN MEM — Frederick W. Smith International Airport 8 mi, ~13m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 24m	4h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$185
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	65 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

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 Oct 24, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Red Boiling Springs, TN to Memphis, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.