Drive or Fly: Charlestown, MD to North Bethesda, 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 ILG–DCA. At 83 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 52m

Distance

83.9 mi

Total Cost

$54

CO2

34 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$19

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 1m

9m in the air

Air Distance

71 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Charlestown, MD → ILG 31m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 9m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → North Bethesda, MD 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Charlestown, MD ILG — Wilmington Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

North Bethesda, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ILG 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	1h 52m	3h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$54	$123
Carbon footprint	34 kg CO₂	18 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 13, 2026.

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