Drive or Fly: Newport News, VA to Merrimac, VA?

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 PHF–ROA. At 283 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 21m

Distance

283.3 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 16m

26m in the air

Air Distance

218 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newport News, VA → PHF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ROA → Merrimac, VA 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Newport News, VA PHF — Newport News Williamsburg International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Merrimac, VA ROA — Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHF and ROA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 5m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 21m	3h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$184
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	56 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

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.

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