Drive or Fly: Buena Vista, VA to Harrisonburg, 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 LYH–SHD. At 63 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 13m

Distance

63 mi

Total Cost

$49

CO2

25 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$14

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 10m

7m in the air

Air Distance

56 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buena Vista, VA → LYH 44m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SHD → Harrisonburg, VA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Buena Vista, VA LYH — Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field 29 mi, ~44m drive

Harrisonburg, VA SHD — Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LYH and SHD. 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 16m

1h 20m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buena Vista, VA → Lynchburg Transit Center (LCB6) 38m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 80m

Arrival 10m

Charlottesville Union Station (CHV6) → Harrisonburg, VA 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From LCB6 — Lynchburg Transit Center 25 mi, ~38m drive

To CHV6 — Charlottesville Union Station 35 mi, ~53m 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 13m	3h 10m	3h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$49	$122	$6
Carbon footprint	25 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	3 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

63 mi 1h 13m

via I 81

Alternative (+9 min)

66.7 mi 1h 22m

via I 81, VA 276, US 33

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