Drive or Fly: Leawood, KS to Clay Center, 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–MHK. At 164 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 9m

Distance

164.1 mi

Total Cost

$70

CO2

66 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$35

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 36m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leawood, KS → MCI 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHK → Clay Center, KS 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Leawood, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Clay Center, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 29 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and MHK. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 43m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US1200

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leawood, KS → Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) 14m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

Junction City (The Joint) (JCC6) → Clay Center, KS 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To JCC6 — Junction City (The Joint) 30 mi, ~44m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 9m	3h 36m	3h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$70	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	66 kg CO₂	35 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: 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

164.1 mi 3h 8m

via I 70, KS 10, US 24

Shortest (+9 min)

160.5 mi 3h 18m

via US 24, KS 10, I 70

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