Drive or Fly: McMurray, PA to Glenolden, 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

6h 12m

Distance

300.6 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

121 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 6m

31m in the air

Air Distance

255 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

McMurray, PA → PIT 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PHL → Glenolden, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

McMurray, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

Glenolden, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

93.3%

Cancellation

6.7%

+ Saves about 3h 6m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 39m

7h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

McMurray, PA → Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 19m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 450m

Arrival 10m

Philadelphia → Glenolden, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~19m drive

To Philadelphia 7 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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

− Limited schedule — about 2 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	6h 12m	3h 6m	8h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$185	$51
Carbon footprint	121 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	93% on-time

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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

300.6 mi 6h 11m

via I 70; I 76; PATP, PA 136, I 70

Alternative (+29 min)

334 mi 6h 41m

via I 70, I 95, I 68; US 40

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