Drive or Fly: Swift Trail Junction, AZ to Tucson, 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 TUS–TUS. At 119 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 11m

Distance

119.2 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

48 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 25m

9m in the air

Air Distance

79 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Swift Trail Junction, AZ → TUS 125m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUS → Tucson, AZ 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Swift Trail Junction, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 83 mi, ~125m drive

Tucson, AZ TUS — Tucson International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TUS and TUS. 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

3h 46m

1h 22m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Swift Trail Junction, AZ → Benson Amtrak 94m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 82m

Arrival 10m

Tucson Amtrak Station → Tucson, AZ 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Benson Amtrak 63 mi, ~94m drive

To Tucson Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m 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	2h 11m	4h 25m	3h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$123	$9
Carbon footprint	48 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	2 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Swift Trail Junction, AZ to Tucson, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.