Drive or Fly: Reading, PA to Boiling Springs, 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 LNS–MDT. At 76 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 37m

Distance

76 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

31 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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

8m in the air

Air Distance

65 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → LNS 37m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MDT → Boiling Springs, PA 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Reading, PA LNS — Lancaster Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

Boiling Springs, PA MDT — Harrisburg International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LNS and MDT. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 46m

1h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

3 kg

Route

Keystone Service

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → Coatesville Amtrak 37m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 66m

Arrival 10m

Harrisburg → Boiling Springs, PA 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Coatesville Amtrak 25 mi, ~37m drive

To Harrisburg 15 mi, ~23m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~93/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

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 8m

1h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus N2642

Door-to-Door Timeline

Reading, PA → Reading (BARTA Transportation Center) (6RA) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 70m

Arrival 10m

Harrisburg Bus Station (HBG6) → Boiling Springs, PA 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From 6RA — Reading (BARTA Transportation Center) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To HBG6 — Harrisburg Bus Station 15 mi, ~23m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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

− Limited schedule — about 10 trips per week

− 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	1h 37m	3h 14m	2h 46m	2h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$123	$12	$6
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	3 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, 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

76 mi 1h 36m

via I 76; PATP, US 222, West Lisburn Road

Alternative (+14 min)

82.9 mi 1h 50m

via I 81, I 78; US 22, PA 183

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