Drive or Fly: Blue Springs, MO to Lebanon, MO?

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–TBN. At 169 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 39m

Distance

169.8 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 44m

15m in the air

Air Distance

127 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Blue Springs, MO → MCI 46m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TBN → Lebanon, MO 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Blue Springs, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 30 mi, ~46m drive

Lebanon, MO TBN — Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field 29 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and TBN. 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 5m

2h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$24

CO2

7 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Blue Springs, MO → Lee'S Summit Amtrak 13m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 151m

Arrival 10m

Jefferson City Amtrak Station → Lebanon, MO 101m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $24) $24

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

Stations

From Lee'S Summit Amtrak 9 mi, ~13m drive

To Jefferson City Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~101m 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	3h 39m	3h 44m	5h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$125	$24
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂	7 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 Apr 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Blue Springs, MO to Lebanon, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.