Drive or Fly: Paupack, PA to Erie, 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 AVP–ERI. At 375 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

Distance

375 mi

Total Cost

$118

CO2

152 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$83

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 23m

31m in the air

Air Distance

257 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paupack, PA → AVP 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ERI → Erie, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Paupack, PA AVP — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between AVP and ERI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 37m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

11h 33m

9h on rail

Total Cost

$63

CO2

18 kg

Route

Lake Shore Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paupack, PA → Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 103m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 540m

Arrival 10m

Erie Amtrak Station → Erie, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $63) $63

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

Stations

From Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 69 mi, ~103m drive

To Erie Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 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	7h	3h 23m	11h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$118	$185	$63
Carbon footprint	152 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	18 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

375 mi 7h 0m

via I 80, I 79, I 81

Shortest (+4 min)

352.8 mi 7h 5m

via I 86; NY 17, I 81, I 84

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