Drive or Fly: Clinton, MD to Clayton, NC?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 27m

Distance

284.3 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

115 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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 18m

28m in the air

Air Distance

232 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clinton, MD → DCA 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RDU → Clayton, NC 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clinton, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 10 mi, ~14m drive

Clayton, NC RDU — Raleigh-Durham International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.4%

Cancellation

5.6%

+ Saves about 2h 9m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$47

CO2

14 kg

Route

Palmetto

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clinton, MD → Alexandria 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 287m

Arrival 10m

Selma → Clayton, NC 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $47) $47

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

Stations

From Alexandria 9 mi, ~14m drive

To Selma 13 mi, ~19m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 4m

5h 5m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus N2471

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clinton, MD → Washington Union Station (DCD6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 305m

Arrival 10m

Raleigh (New Bern Ave) (4RA) → Clayton, NC 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From DCD6 — Washington Union Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To 4RA — Raleigh (New Bern Ave) 12 mi, ~18m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 27m	3h 18m	6h	6h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$184	$47	$25
Carbon footprint	115 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	94% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Clinton, MD to Clayton, NC with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.