Drive or Fly: Bluefield, WV to Elkins, WV?

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–CKB. At 198 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 53m

Distance

198.6 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bluefield, WV → BKW 54m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CKB → Elkins, WV 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Bluefield, WV BKW — Raleigh County Memorial Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

Elkins, WV CKB — North Central West Virginia Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BKW and CKB. 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

6h 50m

3h 38m on rail

Total Cost

$21

CO2

6 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bluefield, WV → Hinton Amtrak Station 50m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 218m

Arrival 10m

Staunton Amtrak Station → Elkins, WV 102m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From Hinton Amtrak Station 33 mi, ~50m drive

To Staunton Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~102m 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	3h 53m	3h 59m	6h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$125	$21
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	6 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

198.6 mi 3h 52m

via US 19, I 79; US 19, I 77

Shortest (+43 min)

187.1 mi 4h 36m

via WV 92, US 219, US 250; WV 92

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bluefield, WV to Elkins, WV with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.