Drive or Fly: Hillcrest Heights, MD to South 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 DCA–BWI. At 71 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 27m

Distance

71.9 mi

Total Cost

$51

CO2

29 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$16

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 3m

7m in the air

Air Distance

59 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hillcrest Heights, MD → DCA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → South Bel Air, MD 46m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Hillcrest Heights, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

South Bel Air, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 30 mi, ~46m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA 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

3h 6m

1h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

4 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hillcrest Heights, MD → Washington Union Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 86m

Arrival 10m

Edgewood → South Bel Air, MD 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Washington Union Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Edgewood 0 mi, ~30m 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

3h 55m

2h 30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hillcrest Heights, MD → Washington Union Station (DCD6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 150m

Arrival 10m

Edgewood Bus Stop (EED6) → South Bel Air, MD 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From DCD6 — Washington Union Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To EED6 — Edgewood Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m 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	1h 27m	3h 3m	3h 6m	3h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$51	$122	$10	$6
Carbon footprint	29 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	4 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 13, 2026.

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