Drive or Fly: Reading, PA to Richland, 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 19 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

38m

Distance

19 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

8 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 4m

2m in the air

Air Distance

18 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → LNS 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LNS → Richland, PA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Richland, PA LNS — Lancaster Airport 17 mi, ~25m 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 18m

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 → Richland, PA 32m

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 21 mi, ~32m 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	38m	3h 4m	2h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	8 kg CO₂	4 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

19 mi 37m

via US 422 Business Alternate

Alternative (+5 min)

21.1 mi 43m

via Brownsville Road

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