Drive or Fly: Atwood, KS to Kansas City, 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 MCK–MCI. At 400 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 12m

Distance

400.1 mi

Total Cost

$111

CO2

162 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$76

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 57m

41m in the air

Air Distance

345 mi

Total Cost

$189

CO2

88 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atwood, KS → MCK 55m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 41m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Kansas City, KS 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $134) $134

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Atwood, KS MCK — McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport 37 mi, ~55m drive

Kansas City, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 15m compared to driving

+ 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

10h 35m

9h 10m on road

Total Cost

$41

CO2

23 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atwood, KS → Goodland (Mcdonald's) (GDN6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 550m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center (KSC6) → Kansas City, KS 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From GDN6 — Goodland (Mcdonald's) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To KSC6 — Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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	7h 12m	3h 57m	10h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$111	$189	$41
Carbon footprint	162 kg CO₂	88 kg CO₂	23 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 19, 2026.

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