Drive or Fly: Erie, PA to Gold Key Lake, 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 ERI–AVP. At 365 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 21m

Distance

365.5 mi

Total Cost

$116

CO2

148 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$81

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 44m

33m in the air

Air Distance

271 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Erie, PA → ERI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

AVP → Gold Key Lake, PA 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Erie, PA ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Gold Key Lake, PA AVP — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ERI and AVP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 37m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

12h 42m

10h 29m on rail

Total Cost

$65

CO2

19 kg

Route

Lake Shore Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Erie, PA → Erie Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 629m

Arrival 10m

Croton-Harmon Amtrak Station → Gold Key Lake, PA 83m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $65) $65

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

Stations

From Erie Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Croton-Harmon Amtrak Station 55 mi, ~83m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 21m	3h 44m	12h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$116	$186	$65
Carbon footprint	148 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	19 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

365.5 mi 7h 20m

via I 86; NY 17, I 81, I 84

Alternative (+0 min)

389.6 mi 7h 21m

via I 80, I 79, I 81

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Erie, PA to Gold Key Lake, PA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.