Drive or Fly: Kansas City, MO to Washington, 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 11m

Distance

215.5 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

87 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 43m

23m in the air

Air Distance

196 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

50 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kansas City, MO → MCI 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Washington, MO 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Washington, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 37 mi, ~56m 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 59m

4h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

12 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kansas City, MO → Kansas City 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 259m

Arrival 10m

Washington Amtrak Station → Washington, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Kansas City 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Washington 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 15m

4h 50m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 290m

Arrival 10m

Washington (WAS6) → Washington, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

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

To WAS6 — Washington 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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 11m	3h 43m	5h 59m	6h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$183	$39	$21
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	50 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	12 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

215.5 mi 4h 10m

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

Alternative (+31 min)

233 mi 4h 42m

via I 70; US 40, MO 210, MO 13

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