Drive or Fly: Akron, PA to Altoona, PA?

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 LNS–AOO. At 174 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 25m

Distance

174.9 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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

2h 48m

14m in the air

Air Distance

118 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Akron, PA → LNS 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AOO → Altoona, PA 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Akron, PA LNS — Lancaster Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Altoona, PA AOO — Altoona Blair County Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LNS and AOO. 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 24m

3h 20m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Akron, PA → Lancaster 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 200m

Arrival 10m

Altoona Amtrak Station → Altoona, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Lancaster 9 mi, ~14m drive

To Altoona Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m 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	3h 25m	2h 48m	4h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$125	$23
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	7 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

174.9 mi 3h 25m

via I 76; PATP, I 99; US 220, West Newport Road

Shortest (+12 min)

173.4 mi 3h 37m

via US 322, PA 283, US 22; US 322

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