Drive or Fly: Brentwood, 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

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 54m

Distance

297.5 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

120 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

3h 4m

30m in the air

Air Distance

250 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brentwood, PA → PIT 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHL → Upper Darby, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Brentwood, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.0%

Cancellation

5.0%

+ Saves about 2h 50m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 28m

7h 28m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brentwood, PA → Pittsburgh Amtrak Station (PGH) 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 448m

Arrival 10m

Philadelphia (PHL) → Upper Darby, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From PGH — Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To PHL — Philadelphia 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 10m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

FlixBus N2642

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brentwood, PA → Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

Philadelphia Bus Station (PHL6) → Upper Darby, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To PHL6 — Philadelphia Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~17/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 54m	3h 4m	8h 28m	7h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$107	$185	$51	$28
Carbon footprint	120 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: Amtrak GTFS, FlixBus 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 Oct 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

297.5 mi 5h 53m

via I 76; PATP, I 476, Lincoln Way

Alternative (+54 min)

333.6 mi 6h 48m

via I 70, I 95, I 68; US 40

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