Drive or Fly: Columbia, MD to Riviera Beach, 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 BWI–BWI. At 25 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

39m

Distance

25.3 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

10 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 30m

2m in the air

Air Distance

18 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Columbia, MD → BWI 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Riviera Beach, MD 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Columbia, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

Riviera Beach, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 14m

7m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Columbia, MD → Halethorpe 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 7m

Arrival 10m

Bwi Thurgood Marshall Airport Station → Riviera Beach, MD 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From Halethorpe 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Bwi Thurgood Marshall Airport Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~35/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 23m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0325S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Columbia, MD → Laurel (7-Eleven) (LRL6) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) → Riviera Beach, MD 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From LRL6 — Laurel (7-Eleven) 10 mi, ~14m drive

To BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 10 mi, ~14m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	39m	2h 30m	1h 14m	1h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$1	$2
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	0 kg CO₂	1 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: Amtrak GTFS, 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

25.3 mi 38m

via MD 100

Alternative (+1 min)

25.7 mi 39m

via I 695, I 95, MD 173

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Columbia, MD to Riviera Beach, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.