Drive or Fly: Mont Alto, PA to Pittsburgh, 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 HGR–PIT. At 172 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 40m

Distance

172.9 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 55m

16m in the air

Air Distance

135 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mont Alto, PA → HGR 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Pittsburgh, PA 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Mont Alto, PA HGR — Hagerstown Regional Richard A Henson Field 13 mi, ~20m drive

Pittsburgh, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HGR and PIT. 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

7h 43m

6h 3m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

10 kg

Route

Floridian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mont Alto, PA → Martinsburg Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 363m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station → Pittsburgh, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Martinsburg Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 55m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Mont Alto, PA → Frederick Bus Station (FRD6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) → Pittsburgh, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From FRD6 — Frederick Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 40m	2h 55m	7h 43m	4h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$125	$25	$17
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	34 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂	10 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, 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 26, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

172.9 mi 3h 40m

via I 70; I 76; PATP, US 30, I 376; US 22

Alternative (+26 min)

201.6 mi 4h 6m

via US 40, I 70; I 76; PATP, US 219

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