Drive or Fly: Bethlehem, PA to Blairsville, 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–LBE. At 246 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 17m

Distance

246.2 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

99 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 55m

25m in the air

Air Distance

205 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bethlehem, PA → ABE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBE → Blairsville, PA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Blairsville, PA LBE — Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ABE and LBE. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 22m compared to driving

+ 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

7h 39m

5h 43m on rail

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bethlehem, PA → Paoli Amtrak Station 61m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 343m

Arrival 10m

Latrobe Amtrak → Blairsville, PA 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From Paoli Amtrak Station 41 mi, ~61m drive

To Latrobe Amtrak 10 mi, ~15m 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	5h 17m	2h 55m	7h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$183	$41
Carbon footprint	99 kg CO₂	52 kg CO₂	12 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

246.2 mi 5h 17m

via I 76; PATP, I 78; US 22, PA 56

Alternative (+6 min)

261 mi 5h 23m

via I 80, US 22, I 99; US 220

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