Drive or Fly: Kansas City, MO to Memphis, 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–IRK. At 198 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 22m

Distance

198.9 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

80 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 31m

19m in the air

Air Distance

159 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kansas City, MO → MCI 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IRK → Memphis, MO 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Memphis, MO IRK — Kirksville Regional Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and IRK. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 48m

2h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

7 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kansas City, MO → Kansas City 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 127m

Arrival 10m

La Plata Amtrak Station → Memphis, MO 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Kansas City 1 mi, ~10m drive

To La Plata Amtrak Station 34 mi, ~51m 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	4h 22m	3h 31m	3h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$126	$26
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	7 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

198.9 mi 4h 21m

via US 136, I 35; MO 110, I 35

Alternative (+7 min)

218 mi 4h 29m

via US 36; MO 110, I 35; MO 110, US 63

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