Drive or Fly: Roanoke, VA to Aquia Harbour, 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 ROA–DCA. At 196 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 10m

Distance

196.6 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

79 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 18m

19m in the air

Air Distance

162 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

41 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roanoke, VA → ROA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Aquia Harbour, VA 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Roanoke, VA ROA — Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Aquia Harbour, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ROA 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 8m

4h 15m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roanoke, VA → Roanoke Bus Stop (RON6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 255m

Arrival 10m

Fredericksburg Bus Stop (FBG6) → Aquia Harbour, VA 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From RON6 — Roanoke Bus Stop 0 mi, ~10m drive

To FBG6 — Fredericksburg Bus Stop 12 mi, ~18m 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	4h 10m	3h 18m	5h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$126	$17
Carbon footprint	79 kg CO₂	41 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

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