Drive or Fly: Sykesville, MD to Mill Stream Hills, MD?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for BWI–MDT. At 28 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

57m

Distance

28.8 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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

3m in the air

Air Distance

25 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sykesville, MD → BWI 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDT → Mill Stream Hills, MD 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Sykesville, MD BWI — Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive

Mill Stream Hills, MD MDT — Harrisburg International Airport 34 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BWI and MDT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 10m

20m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Commuter Rail

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sykesville, MD → Halethorpe 26m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 20m

Arrival 10m

Baltimore Penn Station → Mill Stream Hills, MD 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From Halethorpe 18 mi, ~26m drive

To Baltimore Penn Station 29 mi, ~44m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~36/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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 31m

1h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0430

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sykesville, MD → Baltimore Downtown Bus Station (BAL6) 29m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 70m

Arrival 10m

York Bus Stop (YKK6) → Mill Stream Hills, MD 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From BAL6 — Baltimore Downtown Bus Station 20 mi, ~29m drive

To YKK6 — York Bus Stop 18 mi, ~27m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	57m	3h 25m	2h 10m	2h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$1	$5
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	0 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

28.8 mi 56m

via MD 91, MD 32, Grave Run Road

Alternative (+1 min)

33.4 mi 58m

via MD 97, MD 27

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sykesville, MD to Mill Stream Hills, MD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.