Drive or Fly: Gretna, VA to Arlington, 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 LYH–DCA. At 212 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 40m

Distance

212.1 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

86 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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 13m

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gretna, VA → LYH 41m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Arlington, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Gretna, VA LYH — Lynchburg Regional Airport - Preston Glenn Field 27 mi, ~41m drive

Arlington, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LYH 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 47m

5h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gretna, VA → Danville Amtrak Station 38m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 319m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station → Arlington, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From Danville Amtrak Station 26 mi, ~38m drive

To Washington Union Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/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 11 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 40m	3h 13m	6h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$182	$41
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	46 kg CO₂	12 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 — 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

212.1 mi 4h 40m

via US 29, US 15; US 29, US 29 BUS

Alternative (+26 min)

257.6 mi 5h 6m

via I 81, I 66, US 29

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