Drive or Fly: Atchison, KS to Hays, KS?

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 MCI–HYS. At 255 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 31m

Distance

255.8 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

103 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 20m

28m in the air

Air Distance

230 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

59 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atchison, KS → MCI 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HYS → Hays, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Atchison, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Hays, KS HYS — Hays Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and HYS. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 20m

5h 55m on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atchison, KS → Leavenworth Bus Stop (LVR6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 355m

Arrival 10m

Hays (HSY6) → Hays, KS 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From LVR6 — Leavenworth Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To HSY6 — Hays 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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

− Limited schedule — about 9 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 31m	3h 20m	7h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$184	$26
Carbon footprint	103 kg CO₂	59 kg CO₂	15 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: 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Atchison, KS to Hays, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.