Drive or Fly: Reading, PA to Intercourse, 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 LNS–LNS. At 29 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

46m

Distance

29.1 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 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

2h 58m

3m in the air

Air Distance

23 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → LNS 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LNS → Intercourse, PA 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Reading, PA LNS — Lancaster Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Intercourse, PA LNS — Lancaster Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LNS and LNS. 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 2m

29m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → Coatesville Amtrak 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 29m

Arrival 10m

Lancaster → Intercourse, PA 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Coatesville Amtrak 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Lancaster 11 mi, ~16m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~93/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	46m	2h 58m	2h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	6 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 — 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

29.1 mi 46m

via US 222, North Shirk Road

Alternative (+6 min)

29.2 mi 52m

via PA 625, New Holland Road, PA 23

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