Drive or Fly: Clinton, MD to Gwynn Oak, 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 DCA–BWI. At 48 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 14m

Distance

48.6 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

20 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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 35m

5m in the air

Air Distance

41 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clinton, MD → DCA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Gwynn Oak, MD 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Gwynn Oak, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and BWI. 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 44m

53m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus N2471

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 53m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

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

To BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m 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 14m	2h 35m	1h 44m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$4
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	10 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 15, 2026.

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