Drive or Fly: Philadelphia, PA to Imperial, 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 10m

Distance

320.8 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

130 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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 52m

32m in the air

Air Distance

270 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Imperial, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Imperial, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

91.1%

Cancellation

8.9%

+ Saves about 3h 18m 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

8h 34m

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 → Imperial, PA 20m

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 13 mi, ~20m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 20m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

Greyhound US0421

Door-to-Door Timeline

Philadelphia, PA → Philadelphia Bus Station (PHL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) → Imperial, PA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From PHL6 — Philadelphia Bus Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 13 mi, ~20m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~21/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 10m	2h 52m	8h 34m	7h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$186	$51	$28
Carbon footprint	130 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	91% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

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