Drive or Fly: Windsor, VA to Roanoke, 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 RIC–ROA. At 204 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 53m

Distance

204.4 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

83 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 38m

18m in the air

Air Distance

150 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Windsor, VA → RIC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROA → Roanoke, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Windsor, VA RIC — Richmond International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Roanoke, VA ROA — Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RIC and ROA. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 53m	2h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$181
Carbon footprint	83 kg CO₂	38 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

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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

204.4 mi 3h 52m

via I 64, I 81, I 295

Shortest (+2 min)

176.9 mi 3h 55m

via US 460, US 360, US 221; US 460

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