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Drive or Fly: Surprise, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ?

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 PHX–SOW. At 286 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 12m

Distance

286.5 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

116 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63
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

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Surprise, AZ → PHX 35m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 22m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
SOW → Saint Johns, AZ 61m

Cost Breakdown

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

Airports

Surprise, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 23 mi, ~35m drive
Saint Johns, AZ SOW — Show Low Regional Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHX and SOW. 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 5h 12m 3h 58m
Total cost (1 person) $98 $182
Carbon footprint 116 kg CO2 46 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
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
286.5 mi 5h 12m

via I 17, I 40, US 180

Shortest (+3 min)
231.8 mi 5h 15m

via AZ 87, AZ 260, AZ 277

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Surprise, AZ to Saint Johns, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.