Drive or Fly: Saint Joseph, MO to De Soto, 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

6h 24m

Distance

330.6 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

134 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 26m

31m in the air

Air Distance

257 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → MCI 50m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → De Soto, MO 65m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Joseph, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

De Soto, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 43 mi, ~65m 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 47m

5h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$46

CO2

19 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → Kansas City 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 307m

Arrival 10m

Kirkwood Amtrak Station → De Soto, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $46) $46

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

Stations

From Kansas City 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Kirkwood Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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	6h 24m	4h 26m	6h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$185	$46
Carbon footprint	134 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	19 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

330.6 mi 6h 23m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, I 435

Alternative (+15 min)

331.3 mi 6h 39m

via US 36, US 61, MO 21

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