Drive or Fly: South Cleveland, TN to Knoxville, TN?

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 CHA–TYS. At 84 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 37m

Distance

84.7 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

34 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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 56m

9m in the air

Air Distance

78 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Cleveland, TN → CHA 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TYS → Knoxville, TN 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

South Cleveland, TN CHA — Chattanooga Metropolitan Airport (Lovell Field) 20 mi, ~30m drive

Knoxville, TN TYS — McGhee Tyson Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CHA and TYS. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 14m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0110

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Cleveland, TN → Athens (Exxon) (ATS6) 39m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop (KNO6) → Knoxville, TN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From ATS6 — Athens (Exxon) 26 mi, ~39m drive

To KNO6 — Knoxville Area Transit Bus Stop 4 mi, ~10m 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	1h 37m	2h 56m	2h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123	$6
Carbon footprint	34 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	3 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from South Cleveland, TN to Knoxville, TN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.