Drive or Fly: Shohola, PA to Erie, 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 SWF–ERI. At 392 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 26m

Distance

392.7 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

159 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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 45m

32m in the air

Air Distance

270 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shohola, PA → SWF 63m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ERI → Erie, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Shohola, PA SWF — New York Stewart International Airport 42 mi, ~63m drive

Erie, PA ERI — Erie International Tom Ridge Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SWF and ERI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 41m 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

11h 10m

9h on rail

Total Cost

$63

CO2

18 kg

Route

Lake Shore Limited

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shohola, PA → Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 80m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 540m

Arrival 10m

Erie Amtrak Station → Erie, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $63) $63

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

Stations

From Poughkeepsie Amtrak Station 53 mi, ~80m drive

To Erie Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	7h 26m	3h 45m	11h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$186	$63
Carbon footprint	159 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	18 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

392.7 mi 7h 26m

via I 80, I 79, I 81

Shortest (+0 min)

358 mi 7h 26m

via I 86; NY 17, NY 97, NY 17

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