Drive or Fly: South Suffolk, VA to Purcellville, 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 44m

Distance

223.1 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

90 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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 27m

21m in the air

Air Distance

178 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

South Suffolk, VA → ORF 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IAD → Purcellville, VA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Purcellville, VA IAD — Washington Dulles International Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

97.2%

Cancellation

2.8%

+ 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 44m	3h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$182
Carbon footprint	90 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	97% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

223.1 mi 4h 44m

via I 95, VA 10, I 295

Shortest (+1 min)

218.9 mi 4h 45m

via I 95, VA 10, US 17

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