Distance matters less than fit. A nearby store with no Pokémon singles, no sports case, or no grading intake may be the wrong stop for your trip, while a shop thirty minutes farther away can save time if it carries the category you need. Use the national directory and specialty hubs like sports card shops or Pokémon card shops to compare options by focus before you compare drive times. Then call the strongest candidate with one specific inventory or service question.
A longer drive makes sense when you need to inspect an expensive raw card, sell a collection to the right buyer, attend an event, or compare several shops in one market. It makes less sense for current sealed product that many stores carry at similar prices. The regional card shopping trip planner can help group stops and shows into one route. Set a fuel and time budget before you leave, because saving five dollars on a box rarely justifies an afternoon of driving.