Drive or Fly: Baltimore, MD to Clarksburg, MD?

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 BWI–IAD. At 51 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 7m

Distance

51 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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 51m

4m in the air

Air Distance

36 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Baltimore, MD → BWI 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAD → Clarksburg, MD 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Baltimore, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

Clarksburg, MD IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 22 mi, ~34m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and IAD. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 51m

2h 55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0430

Door-to-Door Timeline

Baltimore, MD → Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 175m

Arrival 10m

Frederick Bus Station (FRD6) → Clarksburg, MD 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To FRD6 — Frederick Bus Station 14 mi, ~21m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 7m	2h 51m	3h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	2 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: FlixBus 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

51 mi 1h 7m

via I 95, MD 200 Toll, I 270

Shortest (+2 min)

47.2 mi 1h 9m

via I 70, I 70; US 40, MD 27

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Baltimore, MD to Clarksburg, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.