Drive or Fly: Kansas City, MO to Athens, MO?

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–BRL. At 248 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 24m

Distance

248.9 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

101 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 36m

22m in the air

Air Distance

184 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kansas City, MO → MCI 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRL → Athens, MO 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Kansas City, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

Athens, MO BRL — Southeast Iowa Regional Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and BRL. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 40m

3h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kansas City, MO → Kansas City 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 199m

Arrival 10m

Fort Madison → Athens, MO 31m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $41) $41

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

Stations

From Kansas City 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Fort Madison 20 mi, ~31m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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 24m	3h 36m	4h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$182	$41
Carbon footprint	101 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	12 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: 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

248.9 mi 5h 24m

via IA 2, I 35; MO 110, I 35

Alternative (+8 min)

276.2 mi 5h 32m

via US 36; MO 110, I 35; MO 110, US 61

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