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Drive or Fly: Wilmington, NC to Icard, NC?

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 21m

Distance

256 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

103 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54
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 46m

27m in the air

Air Distance

225 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wilmington, NC → ILM 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 27m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
CLT → Icard, NC 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Wilmington, NC ILM — Wilmington International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive
Icard, NC CLT — Charlotte Douglas International Airport 46 mi, ~69m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.9%

Cancellation

4.1%

+ 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 21m 3h 46m
Total cost (1 person) $89 $184
Carbon footprint 103 kg CO2 57 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 96% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
256 mi 5h 20m

via US 74, US 74; US 76, US 74; NC 130

Alternative (+34 min)
312.1 mi 5h 55m

via I 40, I 40; US 117; NC 132, I 40; US 220

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Wilmington, NC to Icard, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.