Drive or Fly: Saint Joseph, MO to St. Louis, 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 49m

Distance

306 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

124 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$58

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 40m

31m in the air

Air Distance

261 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → MCI 50m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → St. Louis, MO 19m

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

St. Louis, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.9%

Cancellation

1.2%

+ Saves about 2h 9m compared to driving

+ 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

7h 20m

5h 40m on rail

Total Cost

$48

CO2

18 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → Kansas City (KCY) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 340m

Arrival 10m

St. Louis (STL) → St. Louis, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $48) $48

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

Stations

From KCY — Kansas City 0 mi, ~30m drive

To STL — St. Louis 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 35m on road

Total Cost

$28

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → Leavenworth Bus Stop (LVR6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 335m

Arrival 10m

St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) → St. Louis, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From LVR6 — Leavenworth Bus Stop 0 mi, ~30m drive

To SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 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 49m	3h 40m	7h 20m	7h
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$185	$48	$28
Carbon footprint	124 kg CO₂	67 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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 Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

306 mi 5h 49m

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

Alternative (+15 min)

306.6 mi 6h 5m

via US 36, US 61, I 64; US 40

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