Drive or Fly: Alexandria, VA to Halifax, 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–LYH. At 211 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 23m

Distance

211 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

85 kg

Cost Breakdown

Fuel$34

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 33m

21m in the air

Air Distance

174 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alexandria, VA → DCA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LYH → Halifax, VA 62m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Halifax, VA LYH — Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field 42 mi, ~62m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and LYH. 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

− 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	4h 23m	3h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$182
Carbon footprint	85 kg CO₂	44 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

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 12, 2026.

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