Drive or Fly: Philadelphia, PA to Buffalo, 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 13m

Distance

319.7 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

129 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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 12m

33m in the air

Air Distance

275 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

70 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Buffalo, PA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Buffalo, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 1m 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

9h 3m

7h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

19 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → Philadelphia (PHL) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 443m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station (PGH) → Buffalo, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From PHL — Philadelphia 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PGH — 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

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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

10h 9m

8h 44m on road

Total Cost

$32

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → Philadelphia Bus Station (PHL6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 524m

Arrival 10m

Wheeling Bus Stop (WHL6) → Buffalo, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $32) $32

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

Stations

From PHL6 — Philadelphia Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To WHL6 — Wheeling Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~17/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

− 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	6h 13m	3h 12m	9h 3m	10h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$186	$51	$32
Carbon footprint	129 kg CO₂	70 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

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 Jul 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

319.7 mi 6h 13m

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

Alternative (+45 min)

347.4 mi 6h 58m

via I 76; PATP, I 78; US 22, I 70

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