Drive or Fly: La Plata, MD to Gwynn Oak, 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 67 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 42m

Distance

67.5 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

27 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

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 57m

7m in the air

Air Distance

58 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Plata, MD → DCA 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Gwynn Oak, MD 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

La Plata, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

Gwynn Oak, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 11 mi, ~16m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 1m

2h on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Plata, MD → Woodbridge Bus Stop (WDG6) 26m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 120m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) → Gwynn Oak, MD 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From WDG6 — Woodbridge Bus Stop 17 mi, ~26m drive

To BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m 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	1h 42m	2h 57m	3h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$122	$6
Carbon footprint	27 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	3 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

67.5 mi 1h 41m

via US 301, I 97, I 695

Shortest (+1 min)

67.5 mi 1h 43m

via Baltimore-Washington Parkway, I 95; I 495, US 301

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from La Plata, MD to Gwynn Oak, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.