Drive or Fly: New York, MO to Shrewsbury, 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

5h 9m

Distance

255 mi

Total Cost

$89

CO2

103 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$54

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 56m

25m in the air

Air Distance

207 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York, MO → MCI 74m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Shrewsbury, MO 17m

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

Shrewsbury, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 11 mi, ~17m 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 → Shrewsbury, 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 4 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 56m

4h on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York, MO → Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) 80m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 240m

Arrival 10m

St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) → Shrewsbury, MO 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 53 mi, ~80m drive

To SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 8 mi, ~11m 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	5h 9m	3h 56m	6h 52m	5h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$89	$183	$44	$26
Carbon footprint	103 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	14 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

255 mi 5h 8m

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

Alternative (+9 min)

257.2 mi 5h 18m

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 Shrewsbury, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.