Drive or Fly: Sugar Hill, GA to Alpharetta, GA?

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 PDK–PDK. At 18 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

32m

Distance

18.5 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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

2m in the air

Air Distance

15 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sugar Hill, GA → PDK 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PDK → Alpharetta, GA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Sugar Hill, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Alpharetta, GA PDK — DeKalb Peachtree Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PDK and PDK. 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

2h 51m

1h 15m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sugar Hill, GA → Gainesville Amtrak Station 26m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 75m

Arrival 10m

Atlanta → Alpharetta, GA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Gainesville Amtrak Station 18 mi, ~26m drive

To Atlanta 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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

− Limited schedule — about 6 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	32m	2h 56m	2h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$9
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	4 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: Amtrak 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

18.5 mi 31m

via McGinnis Ferry Road, Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, GA 120

Alternative (+1 min)

20.6 mi 33m

via Peachtree Industrial Boulevard, GA 120

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sugar Hill, GA to Alpharetta, GA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.