Drive or Fly: McMurray, PA to Carlisle, 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 PIT–MDT. At 189 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 57m

Distance

189.8 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

77 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 17m

18m in the air

Air Distance

153 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McMurray, PA → PIT 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDT → Carlisle, PA 34m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

McMurray, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Carlisle, PA MDT — Harrisburg International Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PIT and MDT. 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 49m

5h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$33

CO2

10 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

McMurray, PA → Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 325m

Arrival 10m

Harrisburg → Carlisle, PA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~19m drive

To Harrisburg 17 mi, ~25m 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

5h 15m

4h 6m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US0420

Door-to-Door Timeline

McMurray, PA → Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) 19m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 246m

Arrival 10m

Harrisburg Bus Station (HBG6) → Carlisle, PA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 12 mi, ~19m drive

To HBG6 — Harrisburg Bus Station 17 mi, ~25m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	3h 57m	3h 17m	6h 49m	5h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$126	$33	$18
Carbon footprint	77 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	10 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

189.8 mi 3h 57m

via I 70; I 76; PATP, PA 136, I 70

Alternative (+36 min)

223.6 mi 4h 33m

via I 68; US 40, I 81, PA Tpke 43

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