Drive or Fly: Philadelphia, PA to Waterford, 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 PHL–ERI. At 381 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 35m

Distance

381.2 mi

Total Cost

$119

CO2

154 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$84

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 5m

34m in the air

Air Distance

287 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ERI → Waterford, PA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Philadelphia, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Waterford, PA ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 4h 30m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 35m	3h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$119	$186
Carbon footprint	154 kg CO₂	73 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

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

381.2 mi 7h 35m

via I 80, I 476; PATP, PA 36

Alternative (+18 min)

417.6 mi 7h 53m

via I 76; PATP, I 79, I 76; US 30

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