Drive or Fly: Mitchellville, MD to City of Baltimore, MD?

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 DCA–BWI. At 30 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

46m

Distance

30 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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 41m

3m in the air

Air Distance

26 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mitchellville, MD → DCA 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → City of Baltimore, MD 13m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Mitchellville, MD DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

City of Baltimore, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 9 mi, ~13m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DCA and BWI. 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

2h 25m

45m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mitchellville, MD → Seabrook 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Penn Station → City of Baltimore, MD 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Seabrook 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Baltimore Penn Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~19/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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 10m

45m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mitchellville, MD → Hyattsville New Carrollton Bus Stop (NCC6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 45m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) → City of Baltimore, MD 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From NCC6 — Hyattsville New Carrollton Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− 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	46m	2h 41m	2h 25m	2h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$5	$3
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	2 kg CO₂	2 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, 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

30 mi 45m

via I 97, MD 3; MD 450, MD 295

Shortest (+4 min)

29.7 mi 49m

via I 97, MD 3; MD 450, US 301

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Mitchellville, MD to City of Baltimore, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.