Drive or Fly: Mingo Junction, OH to Columbus, OH?

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 PIT–CMH. At 146 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 51m

Distance

146.5 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

59 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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

15m in the air

Air Distance

129 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mingo Junction, OH → PIT 35m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CMH → Columbus, OH 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Mingo Junction, OH PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 23 mi, ~35m drive

Columbus, OH CMH — John Glenn Columbus International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PIT and CMH. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 28m

2h 25m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus N2642

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mingo Junction, OH → Wheeling Bus Stop (WHL6) 28m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 145m

Arrival 10m

Columbus (E Rich St) (5CO) → Columbus, OH 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From WHL6 — Wheeling Bus Stop 19 mi, ~28m drive

To 5CO — Columbus (E Rich St) 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	2h 51m	3h	3h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	59 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂	7 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

146.5 mi 2h 51m

via I 70, SR 7

Alternative (+20 min)

155 mi 3h 11m

via I 70, SR 16, SR 7

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Mingo Junction, OH to Columbus, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.