Drive or Fly: Akron, OH to Smithfield, OH?

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 CAK–PIT. At 95 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 5m

Distance

95.3 mi

Total Cost

$56

CO2

39 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$21

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 15m

8m in the air

Air Distance

68 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Akron, OH → CAK 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Smithfield, OH 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Akron, OH CAK — Akron Canton Regional Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Smithfield, OH PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CAK and PIT. 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

4h 22m

2h on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Akron, OH → Alliance Amtrak 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 120m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station → Smithfield, OH 65m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Alliance Amtrak 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 43 mi, ~65m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 5m	3h 15m	4h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$56	$123	$13
Carbon footprint	39 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	4 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

95.3 mi 2h 4m

via SR 8, US 250, SR 151

Shortest (+7 min)

81.4 mi 2h 12m

via SR 8, SR 171, SR 9

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Akron, OH to Smithfield, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.