Drive or Fly: New York, MO to Lebanon, MO?

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–TBN. At 203 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 33m

Distance

203.4 mi

Total Cost

$80

CO2

82 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

4h 16m

19m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York, MO → MCI 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TBN → Lebanon, MO 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Lebanon, MO TBN — Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field 29 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and TBN. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 23m

2h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York, MO → Independence Amtrak Station 74m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 168m

Arrival 10m

Jefferson City Amtrak Station → Lebanon, MO 101m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Independence Amtrak Station 49 mi, ~74m drive

To Jefferson City Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~101m 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 33m	4h 16m	6h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$80	$181	$25
Carbon footprint	82 kg CO₂	39 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: 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

203.4 mi 4h 33m

via US 65, MO 13, MO 64

Alternative (+23 min)

253.4 mi 4h 56m

via US 63, US 36; MO 110, US 54

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