Drive or Fly: Upper Providence, PA to Mount Lebanon, 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 46m

Distance

289.1 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

117 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 7m

30m in the air

Air Distance

246 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

63 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Providence, PA → PHL 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

PIT → Mount Lebanon, PA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Upper Providence, PA PHL — Philadelphia International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Mount Lebanon, PA PIT — Pittsburgh International Airport 14 mi, ~20m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 39m 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 33m

6h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$48

CO2

17 kg

Route

Pennsylvanian

Door-to-Door Timeline

Upper Providence, PA → Paoli Amtrak Station (PAO) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 413m

Arrival 10m

Pittsburgh Amtrak Station (PGH) → Mount Lebanon, PA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $48) $48

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

Stations

From PAO — Paoli Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 46m	3h 7m	8h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$185	$48
Carbon footprint	117 kg CO₂	63 kg CO₂	17 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 — 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

289.1 mi 5h 46m

via I 76; PATP, PA 100, PA 3

Alternative (+65 min)

332.9 mi 6h 51m

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

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