Drive or Fly: Allentown, PA to Barnesboro, 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 ABE–JST. At 236 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 37m

Distance

236.1 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

95 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 7m

21m in the air

Air Distance

173 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Allentown, PA → ABE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JST → Barnesboro, PA 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Allentown, PA ABE — Lehigh Valley International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Barnesboro, PA JST — John Murtha Johnstown Cambria County Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ABE and JST. 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 13m

4h on rail

Total Cost

$31

CO2

9 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Allentown, PA → Paoli Amtrak Station 59m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 240m

Arrival 10m

Altoona Amtrak Station → Barnesboro, PA 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From Paoli Amtrak Station 39 mi, ~59m drive

To Altoona Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~34m 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	4h 37m	3h 7m	6h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$182	$31
Carbon footprint	95 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	9 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 15, 2026.

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