Drive or Fly: Marion Center, PA to Smith, 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 DUJ–LBE. At 27 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

33m

Distance

27.7 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

11 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 9m

3m in the air

Air Distance

24 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marion Center, PA → DUJ 44m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBE → Smith, PA 22m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Marion Center, PA DUJ — DuBois Regional Airport 29 mi, ~44m drive

Smith, PA LBE — Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DUJ and LBE. 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

2h 26m

41m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marion Center, PA → Johnstown Amtrak Station 47m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 41m

Arrival 10m

Latrobe Amtrak → Smith, PA 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Johnstown Amtrak Station 31 mi, ~47m drive

To Latrobe Amtrak 12 mi, ~18m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 7m

1h 40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0400s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Marion Center, PA → Ebensburg (A-Z Travel Agency) (ENB6) 39m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 100m

Arrival 10m

Latrobe Arnold Palmer Reg Airport (LRP6) → Smith, PA 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From ENB6 — Ebensburg (A-Z Travel Agency) 26 mi, ~39m drive

To LRP6 — Latrobe Arnold Palmer Reg Airport 15 mi, ~23m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	33m	3h 9m	2h 26m	3h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$5	$4
Carbon footprint	11 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	2 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, 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 17, 2026.

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