Drive or Fly: Alexandria, VA to Tappahannock, 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–RIC. At 87 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 9m

Distance

87.5 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

35 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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 15m

7m in the air

Air Distance

62 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alexandria, VA → DCA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RIC → Tappahannock, VA 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Tappahannock, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 38 mi, ~58m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and RIC. 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

3h 14m

1h 34m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

5 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Alexandria, VA → Alexandria 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 94m

Arrival 10m

Ashland Amtrak → Tappahannock, VA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From Alexandria 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Ashland Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~51/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 9m	3h 15m	3h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$122	$15
Carbon footprint	35 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	5 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

87.5 mi 2h 9m

via US 301, US 17, MD 210

Alternative (+0 min)

99.5 mi 2h 10m

via US 17, I 95, I 95; I 495

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