Drive or Fly: Essex, MD to North Bel Air, 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–BWI. At 24 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

37m

Distance

24.4 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 8m

2m in the air

Air Distance

17 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Essex, MD → BWI 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → North Bel Air, MD 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

North Bel Air, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and BWI. 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

1h 17m

13m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Essex, MD → Martin Airport 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 13m

Arrival 10m

Edgewood → North Bel Air, MD 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From Martin Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

To Edgewood 9 mi, ~14m 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 1m

15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Greyhound US0325S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Essex, MD → White Marsh Park N Ride (WMH6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 15m

Arrival 10m

Edgewood Bus Stop (EED6) → North Bel Air, MD 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From WMH6 — White Marsh Park N Ride 5 mi, ~10m drive

To EED6 — Edgewood Bus Stop 7 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	37m	3h 8m	1h 17m	1h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$2	$1
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	0 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 12, 2026.

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