Drive or Fly: Weyers Cave, 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 SHD–DCA. At 146 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 24m

Distance

146.9 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

59 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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 33m

13m in the air

Air Distance

107 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Weyers Cave, VA → SHD 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Alexandria, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Weyers Cave, VA SHD — Shenandoah Valley Regional Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SHD 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

5h 8m

3h 59m on rail

Total Cost

$24

CO2

7 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Weyers Cave, VA → Staunton Amtrak Station 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 239m

Arrival 10m

Alexandria → Alexandria, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From Staunton Amtrak Station 13 mi, ~19m 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	2h 24m	2h 33m	5h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$124	$24
Carbon footprint	59 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	7 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 12, 2026.

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