Drive or Fly: Philadelphia, PA to Ben Avon, 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 PHL–LBE. At 276 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 22m

Distance

276.4 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

112 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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 14m

26m in the air

Air Distance

215 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LBE → Ben Avon, PA 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Philadelphia, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Ben Avon, PA LBE — Arnold Palmer Regional Airport 26 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between PHL and LBE. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 8m 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

6h 53m

5h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$40

CO2

12 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → Philadelphia 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 330m

Arrival 10m

Johnstown Amtrak Station → Ben Avon, PA 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From Philadelphia 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Johnstown Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~33m 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	5h 22m	3h 14m	6h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$184	$40
Carbon footprint	112 kg CO₂	55 kg CO₂	12 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

276.4 mi 5h 22m

via I 76; PATP, I 99; US 220, US 422

Alternative (+28 min)

284.7 mi 5h 51m

via I 76; PATP, US 322, I 99; US 220

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