Drive or Fly: Reading, PA to Middletown, 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–ABE. At 44 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 10m

Distance

44.1 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

18 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

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 52m

5m in the air

Air Distance

38 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → LNS 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABE → Middletown, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Middletown, PA ABE — Lehigh Valley International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LNS and ABE. 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

3h 53m

1h 33m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

3 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → Coatesville Amtrak 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 93m

Arrival 10m

Trenton → Middletown, PA 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Coatesville Amtrak 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Trenton 42 mi, ~63m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~69/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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 25m

1h 40m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus 2650

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → Reading (BARTA Transportation Center) (6RA) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 100m

Arrival 10m

William Penn Park and Ride (Easton/Bethlehem) (6EB) → Middletown, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $4) $4

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

Stations

From 6RA — Reading (BARTA Transportation Center) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To 6EB — William Penn Park and Ride (Easton/Bethlehem) 3 mi, ~10m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 10m	2h 52m	3h 53m	2h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$122	$12	$4
Carbon footprint	18 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	3 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, 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

44.1 mi 1h 9m

via US 222, US 222 BUS, West Broad Street

Alternative (+0 min)

45.1 mi 1h 10m

via US 22, US 222, US 222 BUS

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