Drive or Fly: Reston, VA to Virginia Beach, 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

4h 20m

Distance

216.4 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

87 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 49m

20m in the air

Air Distance

164 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

42 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reston, VA → IAD 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ORF → Virginia Beach, VA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Reston, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Virginia Beach, VA ORF — Norfolk International Airport 13 mi, ~19m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	4h 20m	2h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$182
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	42 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

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 Oct 18, 2026.

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