Drive or Fly: Durham, PA to Pittsburgh, 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–PIT. At 298 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 57m

Distance

298.3 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

121 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 8m

30m in the air

Air Distance

251 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Durham, PA → ABE 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Pittsburgh, PA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Durham, PA ABE — Lehigh Valley International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

Pittsburgh, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 49m 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

10h 3m

8h 21m on rail

Total Cost

$55

CO2

16 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Durham, PA → Trenton 52m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 501m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station → Pittsburgh, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $55) $55

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

Stations

From Trenton 35 mi, ~52m drive

To Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m 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 57m	3h 8m	10h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$185	$55
Carbon footprint	121 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	16 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

298.3 mi 5h 57m

via I 76; PATP, I 78, I 81

Alternative (+42 min)

315.2 mi 6h 39m

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

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