Drive or Fly: Independence, MO to Barnhart, 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 52m

Distance

251.6 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

102 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 41m

27m in the air

Air Distance

223 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → MCI 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Barnhart, MO 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Barnhart, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 28 mi, ~42m 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

6h 28m

4h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

15 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 288m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From IDP — Independence Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To KWD — Kirkwood 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

5h 25m

4h on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 240m

Arrival 10m

St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) → Barnhart, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

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

To SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 52m	3h 41m	6h 28m	5h 25m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$184	$44	$26
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	57 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	15 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

251.6 mi 4h 51m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, I 64; US 40; US 61

Alternative (+47 min)

267.9 mi 5h 39m

via US 50, I 70, US 65

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