Drive or Fly: Scranton, PA to Columbus, 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 281 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 59m

Distance

281 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

114 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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

25m in the air

Air Distance

205 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Scranton, PA → AVP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ERI → Columbus, PA 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Scranton, PA AVP — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Columbus, PA ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 36m 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	5h 59m	3h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$183
Carbon footprint	114 kg CO₂	52 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 13, 2026.

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