Drive or Fly: Union Hall, VA to Arlington, VA?

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 ROA–DCA. At 232 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 11m

Distance

232.5 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 13m

23m in the air

Air Distance

191 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union Hall, VA → ROA 40m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DCA → Arlington, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Union Hall, VA ROA — Roanoke–Blacksburg Regional Airport 27 mi, ~40m drive

Arlington, VA DCA — Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ROA and DCA. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 37m

5h 13m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Northeast Regional

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union Hall, VA → Roanoke 34m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 313m

Arrival 10m

Washington Union Station → Arlington, VA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Roanoke 23 mi, ~34m drive

To Washington Union Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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	5h 11m	3h 13m	6h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$183	$39
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	49 kg CO₂	11 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 — 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

232.5 mi 5h 10m

via US 29, US 15; US 29, I 66

Alternative (+11 min)

272 mi 5h 22m

via I 81, I 66, US 220

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Union Hall, VA to Arlington, VA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.