Drive or Fly: Ellicott City, MD to Rockville, 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–DCA. At 27 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

45m

Distance

27 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 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 43m

3m in the air

Air Distance

23 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ellicott City, MD → BWI 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Rockville, MD 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Ellicott City, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Rockville, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 45m

55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus 2605

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ellicott City, MD → Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 55m

Arrival 10m

Bethesda (6BE) → Rockville, MD 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 9 mi, ~14m drive

To 6BE — Bethesda 8 mi, ~11m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	45m	2h 43m	1h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	11 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	2 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ellicott City, MD to Rockville, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.