Drive or Fly: McLean, VA to Cherry Hill, 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 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

52m

Distance

35.8 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 52m

3m in the air

Air Distance

26 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McLean, VA → DCA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Cherry Hill, VA 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Cherry Hill, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 23 mi, ~35m 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 49m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

McLean, VA → Washington Union Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Quantico Amtrak → Cherry Hill, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Quantico Amtrak 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~51/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	52m	2h 52m	1h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$6
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	2 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

35.8 mi 51m

via I 395, I 495

Alternative (+8 min)

36 mi 1h 0m

via I 395

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