Drive or Fly: Ballwin, MO to Saint Joseph, MO?

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 36m

Distance

290.9 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

118 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 40m

29m in the air

Air Distance

244 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ballwin, MO → STL 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Saint Joseph, MO 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ballwin, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Saint Joseph, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.9%

Cancellation

1.2%

+ 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

6h 51m

5h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$46

CO2

17 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ballwin, MO → Kirkwood Amtrak Station (KWD) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 311m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City (KCY) → Saint Joseph, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $46) $46

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

Stations

From KWD — Kirkwood Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To KCY — Kansas City 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 36m	3h 40m	6h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$185	$46
Carbon footprint	118 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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

290.9 mi 5h 35m

via I 70; US 40, I 29; US 71, I 435

Alternative (+14 min)

291.4 mi 5h 50m

via US 24; US 36; MO 110, I 64; US 40; US 61, US 36; MO 33

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ballwin, MO to Saint Joseph, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.