Drive or Fly: South Suffolk, VA to Dale City, VA?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 31m

Distance

174.5 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 25m

17m in the air

Air Distance

138 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → ORF 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Dale City, VA 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

South Suffolk, VA ORF — Norfolk International Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Dale City, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.6%

Cancellation

2.4%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 28m

3h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

10 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → Norfolk 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 228m

Arrival 10m

Woodbridge Amtrak → Dale City, VA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Norfolk 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Woodbridge Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~11/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

− Limited schedule — about 11 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 31m	3h 25m	5h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$27
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from South Suffolk, VA to Dale City, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.