Drive or Fly: Lima, OH to Hamilton, OH?

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 PKB–LUK. At 161 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 53m

Distance

161.1 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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 51m

16m in the air

Air Distance

133 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lima, OH → PKB 62m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LUK → Hamilton, OH 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Lima, OH PKB — Mid Ohio Valley Regional Airport 41 mi, ~62m drive

Hamilton, OH LUK — Cincinnati Municipal Airport Lunken Field 22 mi, ~33m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PKB and LUK. 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

6h 2m

3h 40m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lima, OH → Huntington Amtrak Station 72m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 220m

Arrival 10m

Cincinnati Union Terminal → Hamilton, OH 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Huntington Amtrak Station 48 mi, ~72m drive

To Cincinnati Union Terminal 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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 53m	3h 51m	6h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$125	$25
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	34 kg CO₂	7 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

165 mi 3h 26m

via US 35, I 71, SR 32

Alternative (+8 min)

165.5 mi 3h 35m

via US 35, I 71, SR 32

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lima, OH to Hamilton, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.