Drive or Fly: Altoona, PA to York, 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 AOO–MDT. At 153 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 58m

Distance

153.5 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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

12m in the air

Air Distance

96 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Altoona, PA → AOO 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDT → York, PA 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

York, PA MDT — Harrisburg International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AOO and MDT. 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 30m

3h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$20

CO2

6 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Altoona, PA → Altoona Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 199m

Arrival 10m

Elizabethtown Amtrak Station → York, PA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From Altoona Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Elizabethtown Amtrak Station 14 mi, ~21m 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 58m	3h	4h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$124	$20
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	6 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

153.5 mi 2h 57m

via I 70; I 76; PATP, I 99; US 220, I 83

Shortest (+19 min)

153.3 mi 3h 17m

via US 322; PA 144 Truck, I 99; US 220, I 83

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