Drive or Fly: Upper Darby, PA to Oakmont, 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

5h 44m

Distance

301.3 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

122 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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 10m

29m in the air

Air Distance

244 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Darby, PA → PHL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Oakmont, PA 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Oakmont, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 21 mi, ~31m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 34m 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 27m

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) → Oakmont, PA 14m

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 10 mi, ~14m 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 20m

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) → Oakmont, PA 14m

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 10 mi, ~14m 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	5h 44m	3h 10m	8h 27m	7h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$185	$51	$28
Carbon footprint	122 kg CO₂	62 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 21, 2026.

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