Drive or Fly: Leesburg, VA to Big Stone Gap, 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 IAD–TRI. At 391 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

7h 43m

Distance

391.9 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

158 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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 50m

39m in the air

Air Distance

322 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leesburg, VA → IAD 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TRI → Big Stone Gap, VA 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Leesburg, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

Big Stone Gap, VA TRI — Tri-Cities Regional TN/VA Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAD and TRI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 53m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 43m	3h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$188
Carbon footprint	158 kg CO₂	82 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Leesburg, VA to Big Stone Gap, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.