Drive or Fly: Arlington, VA to Richlands, 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 371 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 4m

Distance

371 mi

Total Cost

$117

CO2

150 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$82

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

4h 6m

34m in the air

Air Distance

284 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, VA → DCA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TRI → Richlands, VA 82m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Richlands, VA TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 55 mi, ~82m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 58m 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 33m

7h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$45

CO2

13 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arlington, VA → Washington Union Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 427m

Arrival 10m

Hinton Amtrak Station → Richlands, VA 96m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $45) $45

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

Stations

From Washington Union Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Hinton Amtrak Station 64 mi, ~96m 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	7h 4m	4h 6m	9h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$117	$186	$45
Carbon footprint	150 kg CO₂	72 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

371 mi 7h 3m

via I 81, I 66, US 19; US 460

Shortest (+16 min)

363.8 mi 7h 20m

via I 81, I 64, US 29

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