Drive or Fly: Glade Spring, VA to Virginia Beach, 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 TRI–ORF. At 404 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 37m

Distance

404.8 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

164 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$90

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 59m

38m in the air

Air Distance

320 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Glade Spring, VA → TRI 62m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORF → Virginia Beach, VA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Glade Spring, VA TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 42 mi, ~62m drive

Virginia Beach, VA ORF — Norfolk International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TRI and ORF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 38m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 37m	3h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$125	$188
Carbon footprint	164 kg CO₂	82 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

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 Glade Spring, VA to Virginia Beach, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.