Drive or Fly: Harrisonburg, VA to Blacksburg, 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 SHD–ROA. At 139 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 45m

Distance

139.2 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 11m

14m in the air

Air Distance

119 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harrisonburg, VA → SHD 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROA → Blacksburg, VA 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Harrisonburg, VA SHD — Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

Blacksburg, VA ROA — Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SHD and ROA. 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

4h 22m

2h 25m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harrisonburg, VA → Charlottesville Union Station (CHV6) 53m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 145m

Arrival 10m

Roanoke Bus Stop (RON6) → Blacksburg, VA 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From CHV6 — Charlottesville Union Station 35 mi, ~53m drive

To RON6 — Roanoke Bus Stop 26 mi, ~39m 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	2h 45m	3h 11m	4h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$10
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	6 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 12, 2026.

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