Drive or Fly: Oakville, MO to Belton, 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 6m

Distance

262.3 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

106 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 50m

28m in the air

Air Distance

229 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oakville, MO → STL 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 28m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Belton, MO 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Oakville, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

Belton, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 35 mi, ~53m 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

5h 25m

4h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

12 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oakville, MO → Kirkwood Amtrak Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 255m

Arrival 10m

Lee'S Summit Amtrak → Belton, MO 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From Kirkwood Amtrak Station 9 mi, ~14m drive

To Lee'S Summit Amtrak 11 mi, ~16m 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 13m

4h on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oakville, MO → St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) 18m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 240m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) → Belton, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m drive

To KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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 6m	3h 50m	5h 25m	5h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$184	$43	$26
Carbon footprint	106 kg CO₂	58 kg CO₂	12 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.

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