Drive or Fly: Erie, PA to Big Beaver, 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 ERI–PIT. At 104 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 7m

Distance

104.4 mi

Total Cost

$58

CO2

42 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$23

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 57m

11m in the air

Air Distance

91 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Erie, PA → ERI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Big Beaver, PA 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Erie, PA ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Big Beaver, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ERI and PIT. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 40m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Erie, PA → Erie (Erie Bus Stop) (ERI6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 135m

Arrival 10m

New Castle Park & Ride (NCW6) → Big Beaver, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From ERI6 — Erie (Erie Bus Stop) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To NCW6 — New Castle Park & Ride 0 mi, ~30m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 7m	2h 57m	3h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$58	$124	$9
Carbon footprint	42 kg CO₂	23 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: 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 15, 2026.

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