Drive or Fly: Richmond, VA to Apple Mountain Lake, 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 RIC–IAD. At 119 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 33m

Distance

119 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

48 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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

3h 17m

12m in the air

Air Distance

101 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond, VA → RIC 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAD → Apple Mountain Lake, VA 52m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Richmond, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 8 mi, ~13m drive

Apple Mountain Lake, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 35 mi, ~52m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RIC 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 49m

2h on road

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

Greyhound US0670

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond, VA → Richmond (Main St Station Plaza) (RVA6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 120m

Arrival 10m

Woodbridge Bus Stop (WDG6) → Apple Mountain Lake, VA 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From RVA6 — Richmond (Main St Station Plaza) 2 mi, ~10m drive

To WDG6 — Woodbridge Bus Stop 49 mi, ~74m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 33m	3h 17m	3h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$124	$9
Carbon footprint	48 kg CO₂	26 kg CO₂	5 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: 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Richmond, VA to Apple Mountain Lake, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.