Drive or Fly: Petersburg, VA to Danville, 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–GSO. At 231 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 39m

Distance

231.3 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

93 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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

4h 17m

21m in the air

Air Distance

176 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Petersburg, VA → IAD 48m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GSO → Danville, VA 68m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Petersburg, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

Danville, VA GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 45 mi, ~68m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAD and GSO. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 3m

3h 27m on rail

Total Cost

$30

CO2

9 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Petersburg, VA → Culpeper Amtrak Station 46m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 207m

Arrival 10m

Danville Amtrak Station → Danville, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From Culpeper Amtrak Station 30 mi, ~46m drive

To Danville Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

10h 8m

7h 30m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

Greyhound US0670

Door-to-Door Timeline

Petersburg, VA → Woodbridge Bus Stop (WDG6) 70m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 450m

Arrival 10m

Greensboro Bus Stop (GBO6) → Danville, VA 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From WDG6 — Woodbridge Bus Stop 47 mi, ~70m drive

To GBO6 — Greensboro Bus Stop 42 mi, ~63m 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	4h 39m	4h 17m	5h 3m	10h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$182	$30	$25
Carbon footprint	93 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	13 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

231.3 mi 4h 39m

via US 29, I 81, I 66

Alternative (+34 min)

257.9 mi 5h 13m

via I 81, US 29, VA 24

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