Drive or Fly: Norfolk, VA to Potomac Mills, 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 ORF–DCA. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 24m

Distance

170.7 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 56m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Norfolk, VA → ORF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Potomac Mills, VA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Norfolk, VA ORF — Norfolk International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Potomac Mills, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORF 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

4h 46m

3h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

8 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Norfolk, VA → Norfolk 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 226m

Arrival 10m

Woodbridge Amtrak → Potomac Mills, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Norfolk 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Woodbridge Amtrak 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 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	3h 24m	2h 56m	4h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125	$27
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	8 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 18, 2026.

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