Drive or Fly: Lake Saint Louis, MO to Saint Joseph, 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

5h 6m

Distance

269.2 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

109 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 51m

27m in the air

Air Distance

227 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake Saint Louis, MO → STL 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Saint Joseph, MO 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lake Saint Louis, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 23 mi, ~34m drive

Saint Joseph, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 33 mi, ~50m 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 59m

4h 34m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lake Saint Louis, MO → Washington Amtrak Station (WAH) 31m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 274m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City (KCY) → Saint Joseph, MO 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From WAH — Washington Amtrak Station 20 mi, ~31m drive

To KCY — Kansas City 49 mi, ~74m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 6m	3h 51m	6h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$184	$39
Carbon footprint	109 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	11 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 — 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

269.2 mi 5h 5m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, I 29; US 71

Alternative (+15 min)

269.8 mi 5h 21m

via US 24; US 36; MO 110, US 61, US 36; MO 33

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lake Saint Louis, MO to Saint Joseph, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.