Drive or Fly: Philadelphia, PA to Darlington, 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–PIT. At 342 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 26m

Distance

342.5 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

138 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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 20m

34m in the air

Air Distance

283 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Darlington, PA 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Darlington, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 6m 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

9h 5m

7h 24m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → Philadelphia 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 444m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station → Darlington, PA 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From Philadelphia 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 34 mi, ~51m 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 26m	3h 20m	9h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$186	$51
Carbon footprint	138 kg CO₂	72 kg CO₂	15 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

342.5 mi 6h 25m

via I 76; PATP, I 76; US 30, PA 351

Alternative (+57 min)

388.2 mi 7h 22m

via I 80, I 476; PATP, I 76; US 30

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