Drive or Fly: Danville, VA to McLean, 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 GSO–DCA. At 248 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 14m

Distance

248.4 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 46m

24m in the air

Air Distance

202 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Danville, VA → GSO 68m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

McLean, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GSO and DCA. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 23m

5h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Danville, VA → Danville Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 319m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From Danville Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/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

− Limited schedule — about 11 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 14m	3h 46m	6h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$183	$41
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	12 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 — 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

248.4 mi 5h 13m

via US 360, I 95, US 58; US 360

Shortest (+0 min)

239 mi 5h 14m

via US 29, US 15; US 29, I 66

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