Drive or Fly: Alexandria, VA to Chilhowie, VA?

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 DCA–TRI. At 346 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 28m

Distance

346.2 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

140 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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 54m

35m in the air

Air Distance

288 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alexandria, VA → DCA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TRI → Chilhowie, VA 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Alexandria, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Chilhowie, VA TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 46 mi, ~69m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and TRI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 34m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 29m

6h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

13 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alexandria, VA → Alexandria 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 407m

Arrival 10m

Hinton Amtrak Station → Chilhowie, VA 112m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From Alexandria 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Hinton Amtrak Station 75 mi, ~112m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	6h 28m	3h 54m	9h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$187	$44
Carbon footprint	140 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	13 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

346.2 mi 6h 27m

via I 81, I 66, I 81; US 52

Shortest (+10 min)

331.8 mi 6h 38m

via I 81, I 64, I 95

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Alexandria, VA to Chilhowie, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.