Drive or Fly: Saint Charles, MO to Adrian, 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 10m

Distance

262.3 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

106 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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 13m

25m in the air

Air Distance

211 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → STL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Adrian, MO 98m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Charles, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

Adrian, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 65 mi, ~98m 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 55m

4h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

15 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → Kirkwood Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 255m

Arrival 10m

Lee'S Summit Amtrak → Adrian, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From Kirkwood Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Lee'S Summit Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m 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	5h 10m	4h 13m	5h 55m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$183	$43
Carbon footprint	106 kg CO₂	54 kg CO₂	15 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

262.3 mi 5h 9m

via I 70, MO 291, I 49; US 71

Shortest (+7 min)

250.6 mi 5h 17m

via I 70, MO 18, US 65

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