Drive or Fly: New York, MO to Des Peres, 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 58m

Distance

247.6 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 54m

24m in the air

Air Distance

202 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

51 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York, MO → MCI 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Des Peres, MO 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New York, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 50 mi, ~74m drive

Des Peres, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 11 mi, ~16m 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

6h 52m

4h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

13 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York, MO → Independence Amtrak Station 74m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 288m

Arrival 10m

Kirkwood Amtrak Station → Des Peres, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From Independence Amtrak Station 49 mi, ~74m drive

To Kirkwood Amtrak Station 2 mi, ~10m 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	4h 58m	3h 54m	6h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$44
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	51 kg CO₂	13 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 — 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

247.6 mi 4h 58m

via US 36; MO 110, US 61, US 24; US 36; MO 110

Alternative (+9 min)

249.8 mi 5h 7m

via I 70; US 40, MO 13, I 64; US 40; US 61

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from New York, MO to Des Peres, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.