Drive or Fly: Harrisonburg, VA to Colonial Heights, 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–RIC. At 150 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 56m

Distance

150.4 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

61 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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

2h 59m

14m in the air

Air Distance

114 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Harrisonburg, VA → SHD 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RIC → Colonial Heights, VA 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Colonial Heights, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 17 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SHD and RIC. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	2h 56m	2h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125
Carbon footprint	61 kg CO₂	29 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 12, 2026.

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