Drive or Fly: Darby, PA to McMurray, 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

6h 11m

Distance

309.5 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$58

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 6m

31m in the air

Air Distance

256 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Darby, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → McMurray, PA 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Darby, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

McMurray, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.2%

Cancellation

4.8%

+ Saves about 3h 5m 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

9h 3m

7h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

18 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Darby, PA → Philadelphia (PHL) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 443m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station (PGH) → McMurray, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From PHL — Philadelphia 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PGH — Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 50m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Darby, PA → Philadelphia Bus Station (PHL6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) → McMurray, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From PHL6 — Philadelphia Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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	6h 11m	3h 6m	9h 3m	7h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$185	$51	$28
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	18 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 Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

309.5 mi 6h 10m

via I 76; PATP, I 70, PA Tpke 43

Alternative (+36 min)

334.9 mi 6h 46m

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

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