Drive or Fly: North East, PA to McMurray, 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 156 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 10m

Distance

156 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 11m

16m in the air

Air Distance

135 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North East, PA → ERI 30m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → McMurray, PA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

North East, PA ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 20 mi, ~30m drive

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

4h 35m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0440s

Door-to-Door Timeline

North East, PA → Erie (Erie Bus Stop) (ERI6) 21m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From ERI6 — Erie (Erie Bus Stop) 14 mi, ~21m drive

To PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 12 mi, ~19m 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	3h 10m	3h 11m	4h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	63 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: 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 13, 2026.

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