Drive or Fly: Elkton, VA to Roanoke, 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 SHD–ROA. At 120 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 24m

Distance

120.3 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

49 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

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 50m

13m in the air

Air Distance

106 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkton, VA → SHD 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROA → Roanoke, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Elkton, VA SHD — Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Roanoke, VA ROA — Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SHD and ROA. 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

3h 56m

2h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$19

CO2

6 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkton, VA → Charlottesville 40m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 146m

Arrival 10m

Roanoke → Roanoke, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From Charlottesville 27 mi, ~40m drive

To Roanoke 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~26/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

3h 41m

2h 25m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkton, VA → Charlottesville Union Station (CHV6) 41m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 145m

Arrival 10m

Roanoke Bus Stop (RON6) → Roanoke, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From CHV6 — Charlottesville Union Station 27 mi, ~41m drive

To RON6 — Roanoke Bus Stop 0 mi, ~10m 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	2h 24m	2h 50m	3h 56m	3h 41m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$19	$10
Carbon footprint	49 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	6 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.

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