Drive or Fly: South Riding, VA to McLean, 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 IAD–DCA. At 21 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

36m

Distance

21.9 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

9 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 26m

2m in the air

Air Distance

18 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Riding, VA → IAD 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

South Riding, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

McLean, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IAD 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 16m

1h 4m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Riding, VA → Manassas Amtrak Station 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 64m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Manassas Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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	36m	2h 26m	2h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	9 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	2 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

21.9 mi 35m

via US 50, I 66

Alternative (+0 min)

23.6 mi 35m

via Dulles Toll Road, VA 28

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from South Riding, VA to McLean, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.