Drive or Fly: Arkansas City, KS to Soldier, 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 ICT–MHK. At 220 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 16m

Distance

220.8 mi

Total Cost

$84

CO2

89 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

4h 41m

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arkansas City, KS → ICT 69m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHK → Soldier, KS 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Arkansas City, KS ICT — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport 46 mi, ~69m drive

Soldier, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 47 mi, ~70m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ICT and MHK. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 49m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0136

Door-to-Door Timeline

Arkansas City, KS → Wichita Bus Stop (WTA6) 69m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

Topeka (BP To Go) (TKA6) → Soldier, KS 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From WTA6 — Wichita Bus Stop 46 mi, ~69m drive

To TKA6 — Topeka (BP To Go) 37 mi, ~55m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 16m	4h 41m	4h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$84	$182	$14
Carbon footprint	89 kg CO₂	46 kg CO₂	8 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: 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 Apr 13, 2026.

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