Drive or Fly: Leavenworth, KS to Colby, 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 MCI–MCK. At 372 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 26m

Distance

372.1 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

150 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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

4h 28m

39m in the air

Air Distance

327 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

84 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → MCI 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCK → Colby, KS 92m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Colby, KS MCK — McCook Ben Nelson Regional Airport 61 mi, ~92m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and MCK. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 45m

8h 20m on road

Total Cost

$40

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → Leavenworth Bus Stop (LVR6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 500m

Arrival 10m

Goodland (Mcdonald's) (GDN6) → Colby, KS 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $40) $40

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

Stations

From LVR6 — Leavenworth Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To GDN6 — Goodland (Mcdonald's) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 26m	4h 28m	9h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$188	$40
Carbon footprint	150 kg CO₂	84 kg CO₂	22 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: 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 Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

372.1 mi 6h 25m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, I 70; US 24; US 40

Alternative (+63 min)

379.8 mi 7h 29m

via US 24, I 70, I 70; US 24; US 40

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