Drive or Fly: Danville, VA to Richmond, 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–RIC. At 143 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 11m

Distance

143.2 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

58 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 36m

15m in the air

Air Distance

126 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Danville, VA → GSO 68m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RIC → Richmond, VA 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Richmond, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GSO and RIC. 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 21m

4h 43m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

10 kg

Route

FlixBus N2471

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 283m

Arrival 10m

Richmond (Main St Station Plaza) (RVA6) → Richmond, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From GBO6 — Greensboro Bus Stop 42 mi, ~63m drive

To RVA6 — Richmond (Main St Station Plaza) 2 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	3h 11m	3h 36m	6h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$18
Carbon footprint	58 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	10 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 Danville, VA to Richmond, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.