Drive or Fly: Smith, PA to Upper Darby, 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 LBE–PHL. At 259 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 25m

Distance

259.9 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

105 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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 57m

25m in the air

Air Distance

212 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smith, PA → LBE 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHL → Upper Darby, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Smith, PA LBE — Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 15 mi, ~22m drive

Upper Darby, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 28m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 47m

6h 39m on rail

Total Cost

$45

CO2

13 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Smith, PA → Latrobe Amtrak 18m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 399m

Arrival 10m

Philadelphia → Upper Darby, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $45) $45

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

Stations

From Latrobe Amtrak 12 mi, ~18m drive

To Philadelphia 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 25m	2h 57m	7h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$183	$45
Carbon footprint	105 kg CO₂	54 kg CO₂	13 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

259.9 mi 5h 25m

via I 70; I 76; PATP, PA 56, US 22; US 119

Alternative (+45 min)

315 mi 6h 10m

via I 80; US 220, I 476; PATP, I 99; US 220

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