Skip to main content

Drive or Fly: Upper Darby, PA to Bell Acres, 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 PHL–PIT. At 327 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 17m

Distance

327.1 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

132 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$72
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 53m

31m in the air

Air Distance

262 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Darby, PA → PHL 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 31m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
PIT → Bell Acres, PA 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Upper Darby, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive
Bell Acres, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 24m 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

8h 34m

7h 24m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Darby, PA → Philadelphia 10m
Boarding 30m
Train ride 444m
Arrival 10m
Pittsburgh Amtrak Station → Bell Acres, PA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From Philadelphia 5 mi, ~10m drive
To Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 14 mi, ~20m 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 6h 17m 2h 53m 8h 34m
Total cost (1 person) $107 $185 $51
Carbon footprint 132 kg CO2 67 kg CO2 15 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 15, 2026.

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