Drive or Fly: Newton, KS to Fort Dodge, 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 ICT–DDC. At 151 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 2m

Distance

151.8 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

61 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 9m

17m in the air

Air Distance

143 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newton, KS → ICT 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DDC → Fort Dodge, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Newton, KS ICT — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Fort Dodge, KS DDC — Dodge City Regional Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ICT and DDC. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 28m

2h 28m on rail

Total Cost

$29

CO2

9 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newton, KS → Newton 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 148m

Arrival 10m

Dodge City Amtrak Station → Fort Dodge, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From Newton 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Dodge City Amtrak Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	3h 2m	3h 9m	3h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$126	$29
Carbon footprint	61 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	9 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.

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