Drive or Fly: Drexel Hill, PA to Mount Lebanon, 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

Distance

302.1 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

122 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

30m in the air

Air Distance

253 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Drexel Hill, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Mount Lebanon, PA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Mount Lebanon, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 56m

6h 31m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Drexel Hill, PA → Philadelphia Bus Station (PHL6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 391m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) → Mount Lebanon, 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

~25/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	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h	3h	7h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$185	$28
Carbon footprint	122 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

Transit: 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

302.1 mi 6h 0m

via I 76; PATP, I 476, Lincoln Way

Alternative (+57 min)

337.1 mi 6h 57m

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

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Drexel Hill, PA to Mount Lebanon, PA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.