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Transportation Impact on Where to Move in VA

Updated: May 18, 2025


In this article, I show a map at the bottom I've created of transportation options in & in some cases around VA, including train stations, commercial airports, light rail stations, bus stations, interstates, tolls, etc. The below is best viewed on a laptop or desktop, & be sure to select filters on the top left. This map is not fully comprehensive, especially regarding bus stops and stations. I also show a number of alternative maps for various transportation methods & for those considering a move to Virginia & wondering about the transportation factor in their decision.


Finding Mass Transportation Beyond the Below Map

Google Maps for Bus/Train/Walk w/ Linked Pricing but Better Map than Rome to Rio

Beyond the below map, which is not fully comprehensive, I suggest the following:


For bus/train travel, check Google Maps, selecting the mass transit option in the top left (in blue below):

As you can see above, Google maps sometimes has pricing details. The more complex the route, the worse Google Maps tends to be on pricing.

Rome to Rio for Bus/Train/Walk/Fly w Pricing Details (but not as good of mapping as Google maps)

Flight Connections for Direct & Indirect Air Travel Options, Airport Sizes, & More

Flight Connections is a fantastic resource for checking flight options. It has free options with 5-second ads & paid options.


Image Courtesy Flight Connections. For Reference, Roanoke has 9 Direct Destinations, while Newport News, Staunton, & Lynchburg only go to Charlotte as of 5/18/25
Image Courtesy Flight Connections. For Reference, Roanoke has 9 Direct Destinations, while Newport News, Staunton, & Lynchburg only go to Charlotte as of 5/18/25

As you can see above, Northern VA carries the biggest airports, but the price tag of homes between those airports goes up, with some of those same counties having some of the highest price tags in Virginia, around double that of some of the highest-priced cities/counties in SE VA. For those who are flying frequently, however, who don't mind some snow, & who don't mind fresh water, counties west of Dulles Airport provide some solid options without as high of price tags. For those who really want to be close to Dulles Airport without the price tag, Warren County provides a solid option, & has prices below the threshold of a number of cities & counties in SE VA.

Amtrak for Most Train Travel

It is free to park at some of the Amtrak stations, including in Newport News.

Amtrak Map of Virginia
Amtrak Map of Virginia

Related:

Amtrak in SE VA

Amtrak vs Commercial Flights vs Driving

Hampton Roads Localized Transportation Websites & Maps Examples

Google Flights for Flights

While it's also a good idea to consider points options, if paying in $, Google Flights is an excellent resource.


Related:

Biking Paths

Here's one of my 2 favorite Virginia biking maps, an interactive resource from Arcgis with some great filtering option layers:

Trail Link is also one of my 2 favorite bike trail maps, including reviews.

Open Street Map has some relatively robust mapping tools, including a cycle map:

Here's more on Virginia biking

They include this more detailed Virginia biking trail map, though you may notice that it's missing some of the elements present above:

Here's a similar map of Virginia by VDOT:


Specialty Transportation Maps:

Commute Time Map

Commute Time Map allows you to create a map from a specific address based on various modes of transit, though keep in mind that it doesn't factor into the equation traffic, and assumes no traffic.


TravelTime is another example that accomplishes similar tasks.

Image Courtesy Travel Time
Image Courtesy Travel Time

"While housing alone is traditionally deemed affordable when consuming no more than 30% of income, the H+T Index incorporates transportation costs—usually a household’s second-largest expense—to show that location-efficient places can be more livable and affordable."

Image courtesy HTA Index
Image courtesy HTA Index

Specialty Situations for Locating Areas Based on Airports:

VA Within 1 Hour 15 Minutes from 30+ Direct Destination Airport

Below are 5 layers of 15 minutes each, totaling 1 hour 15 minutes, from the 30+ direct destination commercial airports in & immediately around Virginia:

1 Hour 15 Minutes from 30+ Direct Destination Airports in VA & Nearby Vicinity
1 Hour 15 Minutes from 30+ Direct Destination Airports in VA & Nearby Vicinity

Virginia City/County For Very Frequent Flyers Whose Primary 2 Objectives are Lowest Price & Closest Proximity to a Major Airport: Warren County

As you can see above, Northern VA carries the biggest airports, but the price tag of homes near those airports goes up, with those same counties having some of the highest price tags in Virginia, around double that of some of the highest-priced cities/counties in SE VA. For those who are flying frequently, however, who don't mind some snow, & who don't mind fresh water, counties west of Dulles Airport provide some solid options. For those who really want to be close to Dulles Airport without the price tag, Warren County provides a solid option, & has prices below the threshold of a number of cities & counties in SE VA.

That said, for most, there's a lot more to a home purchase area decision than house prices and available direct flights. For instance, within Warran County, the only zip code I found within that county that exceeded the mid-tier level on EIG's prosperous index was 22645, where the values of that specific zip code currently exceed those of Hanover County, Virginia Beach, & most of the rest of SE VA, with much of SE VA exceeding mid-tier level, including every ranked zip code in Virginia Beach, Poquoson, Powhatan County, & more.

I don't serve Northern Virginia at this time but feel free to ask me for a referral to another real estate agent or broker who does.

Related:

Greater Richmond, Virginia Zipcodes For Frequent Flyers Whose Primary 3 Objectives are Lowest Price, Closest Proximity to a Large Airport, & Comfortable or Higher Prosperity Index

Comfortable:

Eastern Henrico County: 23150 & 23231 Prosperity Index is Comfortable & adjacent to/surround Richmond Airport


Prosperous:


Prosperous, Longer Drive, Lower Costs, Semi-Rural:

Example 40-55 Minutes in No Traffic

Hampton Roads, Virginia Zipcodes For Frequent Flyers Whose Primary 3 Objectives are Lowest Price, Closest Proximity to a Large Airport, & Comfortable or Higher Prosperity Index


Comfortable:


Prosperous:


Prosperous, Longer Drive, Lower Costs, Semi-Rural:

Example 50 Minutes to 1 Hour in No Traffic


Keep in mind that a zip code can have highly variable prosperity indicators depending on location within the zip code, and that generally speaking, the higher the values within a given zip code, generally speaking, the higher the prosperity. For instance, the last few waterfront detached houses that sold in East Beach as of 3/5/25 (which is within a mid-tier prosperity index zip code) per the primary MLS of the region were each sold for around 2 million dollars each.




Related:


About the Author: Adam Garrett - 3rd Generation REALTOR®

Adam is the 3rd generation in a line of award-winning real estate agents serving SE VA. He has served full time at Garrett Realty Partners since May 2014 when he joined the marketing department before transitioning to full-time sales to assist buyers and sellers in February 2015. He believes that an educated buyer or seller makes the best decisions, & is dedicated to helping with that both digitally & on-site physically for buyers & sellers. He's also available for referrals to real estate agents around the globe. In several capacities, his resources & direct offerings for assisting sellers & assisting buyers are either unmatched or are top 1% for the SE VA area, and in some cases, nationwide. Not stopping after closing, he also provides information for tenants, landlords, & homeowners.


Related for Buyers:


Related for Sellers:


Contact Adam


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