Drive or Fly: Philadelphia, PA to Oakland, 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 38m

Distance

349.2 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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 37m

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 → Oakland, PA 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Oakland, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

91.1%

Cancellation

8.9%

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	6h 38m	3h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$186
Carbon footprint	141 kg CO₂	72 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

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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

349.2 mi 6h 37m

via I 76; PATP, I 76; US 30, PA 18

Alternative (+29 min)

375.4 mi 7h 7m

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

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