Drive or Fly: Concord, PA to Bethlehem, 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–ABE. At 151 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 17m

Distance

151.5 mi

Total Cost

$68

CO2

61 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$33

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 14m

15m in the air

Air Distance

125 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, PA → AOO 49m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABE → Bethlehem, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Concord, PA AOO — Altoona Blair County Airport 33 mi, ~49m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AOO 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

5h 54m

3h 39m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

8 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Concord, PA → Huntingdon Amtrak Station 34m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 219m

Arrival 10m

Paoli Amtrak Station → Bethlehem, PA 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Huntingdon Amtrak Station 23 mi, ~34m drive

To Paoli Amtrak Station 41 mi, ~61m 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 17m	3h 14m	5h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$68	$125	$27
Carbon footprint	61 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	8 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

151.5 mi 3h 17m

via I 78; US 22, I 81, I 76; PATP

Alternative (+15 min)

161.9 mi 3h 32m

via I 76; PATP, US 222, PA 75

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