Drive or Fly: Tazewell, VA to Alexandria, 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 BKW–DCA. At 362 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 50m

Distance

362.1 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

146 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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 59m

32m in the air

Air Distance

270 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tazewell, VA → BKW 77m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Alexandria, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Tazewell, VA BKW — Raleigh County Memorial Airport 51 mi, ~77m drive

Alexandria, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BKW and DCA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 51m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 45m

7h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

13 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Tazewell, VA → Hinton Amtrak Station 78m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 457m

Arrival 10m

Alexandria → Alexandria, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From Hinton Amtrak Station 52 mi, ~78m drive

To Alexandria 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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

− Limited schedule — about 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	6h 50m	3h 59m	9h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$186	$44
Carbon footprint	146 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	13 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

362.1 mi 6h 49m

via I 81; US 11, I 81, I 66

Shortest (+13 min)

348.4 mi 7h 3m

via I 81; US 11, I 95, I 64

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