Drive or Fly: Intercourse, PA to Bethlehem, 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 LNS–ABE. At 69 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 48m

Distance

69.5 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

28 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

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

2h 35m

7m in the air

Air Distance

56 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Intercourse, PA → LNS 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ABE → Bethlehem, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Intercourse, PA LNS — Lancaster Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Bethlehem, PA ABE — Lehigh Valley International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LNS and ABE. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 40m

43m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Intercourse, PA → Lancaster 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 43m

Arrival 10m

Paoli Amtrak Station → Bethlehem, PA 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $9) $9

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

Stations

From Lancaster 11 mi, ~16m drive

To Paoli Amtrak Station 41 mi, ~61m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~100/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 48m	2h 35m	2h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$122	$9
Carbon footprint	28 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	3 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 26, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

69.5 mi 1h 47m

via US 222, South Shirk Road

Shortest (+15 min)

69.1 mi 2h 3m

via PA 100, PA 23, North New Holland Road

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