Drive or Fly: Allentown, PA to Effort, 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–ABE. At 37 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

55m

Distance

37.6 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 43m

3m in the air

Air Distance

23 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Allentown, PA → ABE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABE → Effort, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Effort, PA ABE — Lehigh Valley International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ABE and ABE. 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 43m

1h 34m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Allentown, PA → Paoli Amtrak Station 59m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 94m

Arrival 10m

New Brunswick Amtrak Station → Effort, PA 90m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Paoli Amtrak Station 39 mi, ~59m drive

To New Brunswick Amtrak Station 60 mi, ~90m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 10m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0340s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Allentown, PA → Allentown (Allentown Bus Stop) (ALL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 135m

Arrival 10m

Mount Pocono (Martz Express) (MOC6) → Effort, PA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From ALL6 — Allentown (Allentown Bus Stop) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To MOC6 — Mount Pocono (Martz Express) 13 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	55m	2h 43m	4h 43m	3h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$13	$4
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	2 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, FlixBus 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

37.6 mi 55m

via PA 33, US 22, Old Route 115

Alternative (+2 min)

39.6 mi 57m

via I 476; PATP, US 209, Tilghman Street

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