Drive or Fly: South Suffolk, VA to Fredericksburg, 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 2m

Distance

148.9 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

60 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 57m

14m in the air

Air Distance

120 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → ORF 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Fredericksburg, VA 66m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Fredericksburg, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 44 mi, ~66m 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

4h 51m

3h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$24

CO2

9 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → Norfolk 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 191m

Arrival 10m

Fredericksburg Amtrak → Fredericksburg, VA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From Norfolk 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Fredericksburg Amtrak 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 2m	3h 57m	4h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$24
Carbon footprint	60 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	9 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

148.9 mi 3h 2m

via I 95, VA 10, I 295

Shortest (+1 min)

142.7 mi 3h 4m

via I 95, US 460, I 295

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