Drive or Fly: Idylwood, VA to McLean, 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 DCA–DCA. At 4 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11m

Distance

4.2 mi

Total Cost

$36

CO2

2 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$1

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 29m

0m in the air

Air Distance

3 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

1 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Idylwood, VA → DCA 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 0m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Idylwood, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

McLean, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

1h 55m

49m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Idylwood, VA → Burke Centre Amtrak 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 49m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Burke Centre Amtrak 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 26m

40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

FlixBus 2605

Door-to-Door Timeline

Idylwood, VA → Arlington (Rosslyn) (6RL) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 40m

Arrival 10m

Bethesda (6BE) → McLean, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From 6RL — Arlington (Rosslyn) 8 mi, ~11m drive

To 6BE — Bethesda 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	11m	2h 29m	1h 55m	1h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$36	$120	$3	$1
Carbon footprint	2 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	0 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

4.2 mi 11m

Alternative (+0 min)

5 mi 11m

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