Drive or Fly: Richmond, VA to Central Garage, 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–RIC. At 24 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

38m

Distance

24.3 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

10 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 45m

3m in the air

Air Distance

22 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond, VA → RIC 13m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RIC → Central Garage, VA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Central Garage, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RIC and RIC. 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

2h 6m

47m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Richmond, VA → Richmond Main Street Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 47m

Arrival 10m

Ashland Amtrak → Central Garage, VA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Richmond Main Street Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Ashland Amtrak 19 mi, ~29m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~20/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	38m	2h 45m	2h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	6 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.

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