Drive or Fly: Shawnee, KS to Ulysses, KS?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MCI–GCK. At 410 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

8h 1m

Distance

410.6 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

166 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$86

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 15m

45m in the air

Air Distance

373 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

95 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → MCI 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 45m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GCK → Ulysses, KS 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Shawnee, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Ulysses, KS GCK — Garden City Regional Airport 42 mi, ~63m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and GCK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 46m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 14m

7h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$70

CO2

20 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → Kansas City 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 446m

Arrival 10m

Garden City Amtrak Station → Ulysses, KS 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $70) $70

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

Stations

From Kansas City 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Garden City Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~56m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	8h 1m	4h 15m	9h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$121	$190	$70
Carbon footprint	166 kg CO₂	95 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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

410.6 mi 8h 0m

via I 70, KS 156, I 70; US 40

Shortest (+1 min)

407.5 mi 8h 2m

via US 50, I 35; US 50; US 59, I 35; US 50; US 56; US 169

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Shawnee, KS to Ulysses, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.