Drive or Fly: Tempe Junction, AZ to First Mesa, AZ?

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 6m

Distance

281.8 mi

Total Cost

$94

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$59

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 44m

23m in the air

Air Distance

189 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tempe Junction, AZ → PHX 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FLG → First Mesa, AZ 131m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Tempe Junction, AZ PHX — Phoenix Sky Harbor International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

First Mesa, AZ FLG — Flagstaff Pulliam Airport 87 mi, ~131m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

93.5%

Cancellation

6.5%

+ 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 6m	4h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$94	$183
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	94% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Tempe Junction, AZ to First Mesa, AZ with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.