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Drive or Fly: Lyndon, KS to Wichita, 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 MHK–ICT. At 126 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 14m

Distance

126 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

51 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28
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

13m in the air

Air Distance

110 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lyndon, KS → MHK 97m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 13m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
ICT → Wichita, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Lyndon, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 65 mi, ~97m drive
Wichita, KS ICT — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHK and ICT. 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 45m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lyndon, KS → Topeka (BP To Go) (TKA6) 30m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 140m
Arrival 10m
Wichita Bus Stop (WTA6) → Wichita, KS 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From TKA6 — Topeka (BP To Go) 0 mi, ~30m drive
To WTA6 — Wichita Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m 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 2h 14m 4h 3h 45m
Total cost (1 person) $63 $124 $14
Carbon footprint 51 kg CO2 28 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 Apr 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest
126 mi 2h 14m

via I 35; US 50, US 75; KS 31, US 54; US 400

Alternative (+24 min)
137.5 mi 2h 38m

via US 50, I 35; US 50, I 135; US 81

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