Drive or Fly: Lee's Summit, MO to Saint Paul, 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

4h 11m

Distance

214.7 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

87 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$45

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 43m

23m in the air

Air Distance

196 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

50 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lee's Summit, MO → MCI 48m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Saint Paul, MO 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lee's Summit, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

Saint Paul, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 22 mi, ~32m 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

5h 11m

3h 43m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lee's Summit, MO → Lee'S Summit Amtrak 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 223m

Arrival 10m

Washington Amtrak Station → Saint Paul, MO 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Lee'S Summit Amtrak 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Washington Amtrak Station 25 mi, ~38m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 37m

4h 15m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0175s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lee's Summit, MO → Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) 25m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 255m

Arrival 10m

Warrenton (Phillips 66) (WRT6) → Saint Paul, MO 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 16 mi, ~25m drive

To WRT6 — Warrenton (Phillips 66) 21 mi, ~32m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 11m	3h 43m	5h 11m	5h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$183	$37	$20
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	50 kg CO₂	11 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, 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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Lee's Summit, MO to Saint Paul, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.