Drive or Fly: Saint Joseph, MO to Washington, 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 14m

Distance

273.2 mi

Total Cost

$93

CO2

110 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

4h 13m

27m in the air

Air Distance

222 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → MCI 50m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Washington, MO 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Washington, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 37 mi, ~56m 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

4h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → Kansas City 74m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 259m

Arrival 10m

Washington Amtrak Station → Washington, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Kansas City 49 mi, ~74m drive

To Washington Amtrak Station 0 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	5h 14m	4h 13m	6h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$93	$184	$39
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	57 kg CO₂	11 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

273.2 mi 5h 13m

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

Alternative (+18 min)

278.4 mi 5h 31m

via US 36, I 70; US 40, US 63

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