Drive or Fly: Colonial Heights, VA to Manassas, 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–IAD. At 115 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 24m

Distance

115.6 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

47 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 58m

12m in the air

Air Distance

103 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colonial Heights, VA → RIC 26m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAD → Manassas, VA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Manassas, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RIC and IAD. 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	2h 24m	2h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$124
Carbon footprint	47 kg CO₂	26 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 Colonial Heights, VA to Manassas, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.