Drive or Fly: Whitman, PA to East Franklin, 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–MDT. At 107 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 28m

Distance

107.3 mi

Total Cost

$59

CO2

43 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$24

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 12m

10m in the air

Air Distance

83 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Whitman, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDT → East Franklin, PA 52m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Whitman, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

East Franklin, PA MDT — Harrisburg International Airport 34 mi, ~52m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHL and MDT. 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 18m

1h 38m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Whitman, PA → Philadelphia 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 98m

Arrival 10m

Middletown → East Franklin, PA 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From Philadelphia 3 mi, ~10m drive

To Middletown 34 mi, ~50m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~98/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	2h 28m	3h 12m	3h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$59	$123	$17
Carbon footprint	43 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂	5 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

107.3 mi 2h 27m

via I 76; PATP, I 76, PA 183

Alternative (+1 min)

115.5 mi 2h 29m

via I 78; US 22, I 476; PATP, I 76

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