Drive or Fly: Catonsville, MD to Clinton, 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–DCA. At 45 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 3m

Distance

45.4 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

18 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

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 29m

4m in the air

Air Distance

36 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Catonsville, MD → BWI 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Clinton, MD 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Catonsville, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 8 mi, ~11m drive

Clinton, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 10 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and DCA. 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

1h 48m

57m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0310

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 57m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station (DCD6) → Clinton, MD 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To DCD6 — Washington Union Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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

− 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 3m	2h 29m	1h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$121	$4
Carbon footprint	18 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

45.4 mi 1h 3m

via I 95

Alternative (+6 min)

48.9 mi 1h 10m

via MD 3, I 97, I 95; I 495

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