Drive or Fly: Saint Charles, MO to Riverside, 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

4h 36m

Distance

234.6 mi

Total Cost

$84

CO2

95 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$49

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

2h 52m

27m in the air

Air Distance

224 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → STL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Riverside, MO 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Riverside, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 10 mi, ~15m 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 23m

5h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$46

CO2

13 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → Kirkwood Amtrak Station 22m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 311m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Riverside, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $46) $46

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

Stations

From Kirkwood Amtrak Station 15 mi, ~22m drive

To Kansas City 7 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 36m	2h 52m	6h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$84	$184	$46
Carbon footprint	95 kg CO₂	57 kg CO₂	13 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.

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