Drive or Fly: West Blocton, AL to Auburn, AL?

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 BHM–CSG. At 137 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 57m

Distance

137.5 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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 56m

12m in the air

Air Distance

102 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Blocton, AL → BHM 56m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CSG → Auburn, AL 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

West Blocton, AL BHM — Birmingham-Shuttlesworth International Airport 38 mi, ~56m drive

Auburn, AL CSG — Columbus Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BHM and CSG. 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

6h 59m

3h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$21

CO2

6 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Blocton, AL → Tuscaloosa Amtrak Station 39m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 228m

Arrival 10m

Anniston Amtrak Station → Auburn, AL 112m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From Tuscaloosa Amtrak Station 26 mi, ~39m drive

To Anniston Amtrak Station 75 mi, ~112m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~16/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

− 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 57m	3h 56m	6h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124	$21
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	6 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

137.5 mi 2h 57m

via US 82; AL 219, I 85, AL 5

Alternative (+2 min)

142.1 mi 2h 59m

via US 280, I 459, AL 5

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from West Blocton, AL to Auburn, AL with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.