Drive or Fly: McLean, VA to Lowes Island, 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–IAD. At 15 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

27m

Distance

15.7 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 31m

2m in the air

Air Distance

13 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McLean, VA → DCA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAD → Lowes Island, VA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Lowes Island, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA 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 35m

24m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

McLean, VA → Washington Union Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 24m

Arrival 10m

Rockville Amtrak → Lowes Island, VA 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Rockville Amtrak 11 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	27m	2h 31m	1h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	6 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	1 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

15.7 mi 26m

via VA 7

Shortest (+4 min)

15.5 mi 31m

via VA 309, VA 193

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