Drive or Fly: South Suffolk, VA to Fort Hunt, 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 55m

Distance

189.5 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

77 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 6m

17m in the air

Air Distance

142 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → ORF 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Fort Hunt, VA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Fort Hunt, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 8 mi, ~12m 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 51m

4h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$28

CO2

11 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → Norfolk 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 251m

Arrival 10m

Alexandria → Fort Hunt, VA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From Norfolk 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Alexandria 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~22/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	3h 55m	3h 6m	5h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126	$28
Carbon footprint	77 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	11 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

189.5 mi 3h 54m

via I 95, VA 10, I 295

Alternative (+41 min)

194.2 mi 4h 35m

via US 17, US 17; VA 33, I 95

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