Drive or Fly: Chesapeake Beach, MD to Gaithersburg, MD?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for DCA–IAD. At 57 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
1h 25m
Distance
57.3 mi
Total Cost
$48
CO2
23 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 19m
6m in the air
Air Distance
48 mi
Total Cost
$122
CO2
12 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between DCA and IAD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 1h 25m | 3h 19m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $48 | $122 |
| Carbon footprint | 23 kg CO2 | 12 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
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.
via I 270, I 495, I 95; I 495
via MD 200 Toll, I 95; I 495, MD 260
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Chesapeake Beach, MD to Gaithersburg, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.