Drive or Fly: Suffolk, VA to Idylwood, 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 196 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 57m

Distance

196.3 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

79 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

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 9m

18m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Suffolk, VA → ORF 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Idylwood, VA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Suffolk, VA ORF — Norfolk International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Idylwood, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 10 mi, ~15m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 18m

4h 9m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

9 kg

Route

FlixBus N2601

Door-to-Door Timeline

Suffolk, VA → Norfolk (NOR6) 33m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 249m

Arrival 10m

Arlington (Rosslyn) (6RL) → Idylwood, VA 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From NOR6 — Norfolk 22 mi, ~33m drive

To 6RL — Arlington (Rosslyn) 8 mi, ~11m 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	3h 57m	3h 9m	5h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$126	$16
Carbon footprint	79 kg CO₂	39 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 18, 2026.

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