Drive or Fly: South Bel Air, MD to Temple Hills, MD?

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 BWI–DCA. At 72 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 43m

Distance

72.6 mi

Total Cost

$51

CO2

29 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$16

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 3m

7m in the air

Air Distance

59 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Bel Air, MD → BWI 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Temple Hills, MD 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

South Bel Air, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 30 mi, ~46m drive

Temple Hills, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI 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

3h 25m

2h 40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0325S

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Bel Air, MD → Edgewood Bus Stop (EED6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 160m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station (DCD6) → Temple Hills, MD 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From EED6 — Edgewood Bus Stop 7 mi, ~10m drive

To DCD6 — Washington Union Station 7 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	1h 43m	3h 3m	3h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$51	$122	$6
Carbon footprint	29 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	3 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from South Bel Air, MD to Temple Hills, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.