Drive or Fly: Martinsville, VA to Arlington, VA?

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 38m

Distance

285.9 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

116 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 38m

26m in the air

Air Distance

214 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Martinsville, VA → GSO 62m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Arlington, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Martinsville, VA GSO — Piedmont Triad International Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

Arlington, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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

6h 59m

5h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$41

CO2

17 kg

Route

Crescent

Door-to-Door Timeline

Martinsville, VA → Danville Amtrak Station (DAN) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 319m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station (WAS) → Arlington, VA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From DAN — Danville Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To WAS — Washington Union Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~16/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 38m	3h 38m	6h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$184	$41
Carbon footprint	116 kg CO₂	55 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

285.9 mi 5h 38m

via I 81, I 66, US 220

Shortest (+14 min)

277.9 mi 5h 52m

via US 360, I 95, US 58; US 360

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