Drive or Fly: Upper Darby, PA to Clinton, 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 17m

Distance

323.4 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

131 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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

268 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

68 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Darby, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Clinton, PA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Upper Darby, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 3h 25m 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 37m

7h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Darby, PA → Philadelphia (PHL) 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 443m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station (PGH) → Clinton, PA 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From PHL — Philadelphia 5 mi, ~10m drive

To PGH — Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 16 mi, ~24m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 30m

6h 31m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

15 kg

Route

Greyhound US0421

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 391m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Intermodal Station (PGH6) → Clinton, PA 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From PHL6 — Philadelphia Bus Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To PGH6 — Pittsburgh Intermodal Station 16 mi, ~24m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~25/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 17m	2h 52m	8h 37m	7h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$186	$51	$28
Carbon footprint	131 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 Jul 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

323.4 mi 6h 16m

via I 76; PATP, I 376; US 22, I 476

Alternative (+53 min)

358.9 mi 7h 10m

via I 70; I 76; PATP, I 70; US 40, I 95

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