Drive or Fly: Upper Darby, PA to Grove City, 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 33m

Distance

348.8 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

141 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$86

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 52m

32m in the air

Air Distance

267 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 → Grove City, PA 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Grove City, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 47 mi, ~70m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

93.4%

Cancellation

6.6%

+ Saves about 2h 41m 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

9h 7m

7h 27m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

20 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Darby, PA → Philadelphia (PHL) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 447m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station (PGH) → Grove City, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From PHL — Philadelphia 0 mi, ~30m drive

To PGH — Pittsburgh Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	6h 33m	3h 52m	9h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$121	$186	$51
Carbon footprint	141 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	93% on-time

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 Oct 22, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

348.8 mi 6h 33m

via I 80, I 476; PATP, I 476

Alternative (+12 min)

357.1 mi 6h 45m

via I 76; PATP, I 79, I 476

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