Drive or Fly: Arlington, VA to Altavista, 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 198 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 24m

Distance

198.4 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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

2h 53m

20m in the air

Air Distance

170 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

43 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, VA → DCA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LYH → Altavista, VA 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Arlington, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Altavista, VA LYH — Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field 16 mi, ~23m 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 52m

3h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$31

CO2

9 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, VA → Washington Union Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Lynchburg → Altavista, VA 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From Washington Union Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Lynchburg 22 mi, ~32m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	4h 24m	2h 53m	4h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$31
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	43 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

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