Drive or Fly: Lebanon, KS to Claudell, 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 EAR–HYS. At 37 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

49m

Distance

37.5 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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

5h 12m

3m in the air

Air Distance

27 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lebanon, KS → EAR 102m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HYS → Claudell, KS 87m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Lebanon, KS EAR — Kearney Regional Airport 68 mi, ~102m drive

Claudell, KS HYS — Hays Regional Airport 58 mi, ~87m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAR and HYS. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 15m

49m on rail

Total Cost

$11

CO2

3 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lebanon, KS → Hastings Amtrak Station 81m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 49m

Arrival 10m

Holdrege → Claudell, KS 85m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From Hastings Amtrak Station 54 mi, ~81m drive

To Holdrege 56 mi, ~85m 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	49m	5h 12m	4h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$11
Carbon footprint	15 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	3 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

37.5 mi 49m

via US 281, KS 9

Alternative (+10 min)

43.3 mi 59m

via US 36, US 281, East 1100 Road

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