Drive or Fly: La Crosse, KS to Leavenworth, KS?

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 HYS–MCI. At 276 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 5m

Distance

276 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

112 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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 19m

29m in the air

Air Distance

242 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Crosse, KS → HYS 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Leavenworth, KS 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

La Crosse, KS HYS — Hays Regional Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Leavenworth, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HYS and MCI. 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

10h 1m

7h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

18 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Crosse, KS → Dodge City Amtrak Station 99m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 426m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Leavenworth, KS 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From Dodge City Amtrak Station 66 mi, ~99m drive

To Kansas City 24 mi, ~36m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 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 5m	3h 19m	10h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$185	$62
Carbon footprint	112 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	18 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

276 mi 5h 5m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, KS 156

Alternative (+28 min)

290.7 mi 5h 33m

via I 335, US 56, US 56; KS 96

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from La Crosse, KS to Leavenworth, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.