Drive or Fly: Lackawaxen, PA to Erie, 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 AVP–ERI. At 353 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 20m

Distance

353.5 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

143 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$92

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 41m

32m in the air

Air Distance

266 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

68 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lackawaxen, PA → AVP 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ERI → Erie, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lackawaxen, PA AVP — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport 40 mi, ~59m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 39m 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

11h 25m

9h 10m on rail

Total Cost

$63

CO2

18 kg

Route

Lake Shore Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lackawaxen, PA → Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station (POU) 85m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 550m

Arrival 10m

Erie Amtrak Station (ERI) → Erie, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $63) $63

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

Stations

From POU — Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 56 mi, ~85m drive

To ERI — Erie Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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 20m	3h 41m	11h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$127	$186	$63
Carbon footprint	143 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	18 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 Oct 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

353.5 mi 7h 19m

via I 86; NY 17, NY 97, NY 17

Alternative (+5 min)

390.7 mi 7h 25m

via I 80, I 79, I 81

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