Drive or Fly: Bowie, MD to Pleasant Hills, 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–BWI. At 49 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 8m

Distance

49.4 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

20 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

3h 8m

5m in the air

Air Distance

41 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bowie, MD → BWI 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Pleasant Hills, MD 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Bowie, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 16 mi, ~25m drive

Pleasant Hills, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 26 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and BWI. 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

2h 12m

1h 12m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bowie, MD → Bowie State 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 72m

Arrival 10m

Edgewood → Pleasant Hills, MD 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From Bowie State 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Edgewood 7 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	1h 8m	3h 8m	2h 12m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$7
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	11 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: 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

49.4 mi 1h 8m

via I 895, I 97, MD 3; MD 450

Alternative (+5 min)

52.9 mi 1h 13m

via Express Toll Lanes, I 97, MD 3; MD 450

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