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Drive or Fly: Bristol, VA to McLean, 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 TRI–DCA. At 368 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 49m

Distance

368.6 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

149 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81
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 14m

38m in the air

Air Distance

318 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

81 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bristol, VA → TRI 22m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 38m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
DCA → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bristol, VA TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive
McLean, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 35m 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly
Door-to-door time 6h 49m 3h 14m
Total cost (1 person) $116 $188
Carbon footprint 149 kg CO2 81 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
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
368.6 mi 6h 49m

via I 81; US 11, I 81, I 81; US 58

Shortest (+23 min)
362.4 mi 7h 13m

via I 81; US 11, I 81; US 58, US 29

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