Drive or Fly: Colonial Heights, VA to Danville, 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 RIC–GSO. At 139 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 56m

Distance

139.1 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 48m

14m in the air

Air Distance

119 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colonial Heights, VA → RIC 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Danville, VA 68m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Colonial Heights, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

Danville, VA GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 45 mi, ~68m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RIC and GSO. 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

6h 3m

4h 25m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

FlixBus N2471

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colonial Heights, VA → Colonial Heights (Temple Ave) (4HE) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 265m

Arrival 10m

Greensboro Bus Stop (GBO6) → Danville, VA 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From 4HE — Colonial Heights (Temple Ave) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To GBO6 — Greensboro Bus Stop 42 mi, ~63m 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	2h 56m	3h 48m	6h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$17
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Colonial Heights, VA to Danville, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.