Drive or Fly: East Franklin, PA to Pittsburgh, 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 MDT–PIT. At 242 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 42m

Distance

242.8 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

98 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 34m

23m in the air

Air Distance

188 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Franklin, PA → MDT 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Pittsburgh, PA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Pittsburgh, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MDT and PIT. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 40m

5h 15m on road

Total Cost

$24

CO2

12 kg

Route

FlixBus N2642

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Franklin, PA → Reading (BARTA Transportation Center) (6RA) 50m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 315m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From 6RA — Reading (BARTA Transportation Center) 33 mi, ~50m drive

To PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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

− Limited schedule — about 10 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 42m	3h 34m	6h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$183	$24
Carbon footprint	98 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂	12 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: 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

242.8 mi 4h 42m

via I 76; PATP, I 81, I 376; US 22

Alternative (+30 min)

253.1 mi 5h 12m

via US 22, I 80, I 99; US 220

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