Drive or Fly: McLean, VA to Bon Air, 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–RIC. At 112 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 18m

Distance

112.7 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

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 46m

12m in the air

Air Distance

100 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McLean, VA → DCA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RIC → Bon Air, VA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Bon Air, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and RIC. 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 38m

2h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$19

CO2

6 kg

Route

Amtrak Thruway Connecting Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

McLean, VA → Washington Union Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 153m

Arrival 10m

Richmond Main Street Amtrak Station → Bon Air, VA 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Richmond Main Street Amtrak Station 7 mi, ~11m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 18m	2h 46m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$124	$19
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	6 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 — 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 15, 2026.

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