Drive or Fly: Roanoke, VA to Laurel Hill, 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 232 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 28m

Distance

232.8 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

94 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

2h 52m

21m in the air

Air Distance

178 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roanoke, VA → ROA 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Laurel Hill, VA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Laurel Hill, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 14 mi, ~21m 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 40m

4h 55m on road

Total Cost

$19

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US0600

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 295m

Arrival 10m

Woodbridge Bus Stop (WDG6) → Laurel Hill, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

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

To WDG6 — Woodbridge Bus Stop 4 mi, ~10m 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 28m	2h 52m	5h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$182	$19
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂	10 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

232.8 mi 4h 28m

via I 81, I 66, US 220

Shortest (+7 min)

217.5 mi 4h 35m

via I 81, I 64, I 95

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