Drive or Fly: New Windsor, MD to Bowie, 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 BWI–BWI. At 60 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 32m

Distance

60.8 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

25 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13

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 23m

6m in the air

Air Distance

46 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Windsor, MD → BWI 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BWI → Bowie, MD 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

New Windsor, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 35 mi, ~52m drive

Bowie, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 16 mi, ~25m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI 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 1m

26m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Windsor, MD → West Baltimore 45m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 26m

Arrival 10m

Bowie State → Bowie, MD 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From West Baltimore 30 mi, ~45m drive

To Bowie State 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~33/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	1h 32m	3h 23m	2h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$48	$122	$4
Carbon footprint	25 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	1 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

60.8 mi 1h 31m

via MD 32, MD 197, Woodbine Road

Alternative (+0 min)

63.3 mi 1h 32m

via I 695, MD 3, I 795

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