Drive or Fly: Manassas, VA to Fairfax, 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–IAD. At 14 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

28m

Distance

14.7 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

6 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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 37m

1m in the air

Air Distance

11 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manassas, VA → IAD 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAD → Fairfax, VA 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

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

Fairfax, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAD and IAD. 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 16m

16m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manassas, VA → Manassas Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 16m

Arrival 10m

Burke Centre Amtrak → Fairfax, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From Manassas Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Burke Centre Amtrak 3 mi, ~10m 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 15m

15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Manassas, VA → Woodbridge Bus Stop (WDG6) 21m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 15m

Arrival 10m

Springfield Bus Stop (SPV6) → Fairfax, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From WDG6 — Woodbridge Bus Stop 14 mi, ~21m drive

To SPV6 — Springfield Bus Stop 9 mi, ~14m 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	28m	2h 37m	1h 16m	1h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120	$2	$1
Carbon footprint	6 kg CO₂	3 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 12, 2026.

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