Drive or Fly: Essex, MD to Aberdeen, 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–ILG. At 23 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

37m

Distance

23.8 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

10 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 12m

3m in the air

Air Distance

22 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Essex, MD → BWI 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ILG → Aberdeen, MD 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Essex, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Aberdeen, MD ILG — Wilmington Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and ILG. 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

2h 3m

23m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Essex, MD → Martin Airport 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 23m

Arrival 10m

Aberdeen Amtrak Station → Aberdeen, MD 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From Martin Airport 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Aberdeen Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 55m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Essex, MD → White Marsh Park N Ride (WMH6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Aberdeen (MARC Train Station) (ARB6) → Aberdeen, MD 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From WMH6 — White Marsh Park N Ride 0 mi, ~30m drive

To ARB6 — Aberdeen (MARC Train Station) 0 mi, ~30m 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	37m	3h 12m	2h 3m	1h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$4	$2
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	1 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

23.8 mi 37m

via US 40

Alternative (+0 min)

27.5 mi 37m

via I 95

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