Drive or Fly: South Suffolk, 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 ORF–DCA. At 199 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 2m

Distance

199.4 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

81 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 10m

19m in the air

Air Distance

157 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → ORF 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

South Suffolk, VA ORF — Norfolk International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ORF 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

4h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$29

CO2

9 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → Norfolk 29m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 277m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station → McLean, VA 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From Norfolk 19 mi, ~29m drive

To Washington Union Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~18/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	4h 2m	3h 10m	6h
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$126	$29
Carbon footprint	81 kg CO₂	40 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: 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 15, 2026.

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