Drive or Fly: Gray Summit, MO to Independence, 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

4h 20m

Distance

220.8 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

89 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 41m

24m in the air

Air Distance

198 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

51 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gray Summit, MO → STL 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Independence, MO 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Gray Summit, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

Independence, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 22 mi, ~32m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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

5h 34m

3h 54m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

13 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gray Summit, MO → Washington Amtrak Station (WAH) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 234m

Arrival 10m

Independence Amtrak Station (IDP) → Independence, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From WAH — Washington Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To IDP — Independence 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 10m

4h 45m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gray Summit, MO → Washington (WAS6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 285m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) → Independence, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From WAS6 — Washington 0 mi, ~30m drive

To KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− 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	4h 20m	3h 41m	5h 34m	6h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$183	$38	$21
Carbon footprint	89 kg CO₂	51 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	13 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

220.8 mi 4h 20m

via I 70; US 40, MO 47, MO 100

Alternative (+32 min)

239.7 mi 4h 52m

via I 70; US 40, MO 13, MO 47

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Gray Summit, MO to Independence, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.