Drive or Fly: Chesterfield, MO to Savannah, 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 STL–MCI. At 294 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 37m

Distance

294.9 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

119 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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 55m

29m in the air

Air Distance

244 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chesterfield, MO → STL 19m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Savannah, MO 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Savannah, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STL and MCI. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 38m

5h 11m on rail

Total Cost

$46

CO2

13 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chesterfield, MO → Kirkwood Amtrak Station 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 311m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Savannah, MO 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $46) $46

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

Stations

From Kirkwood Amtrak Station 11 mi, ~16m drive

To Kansas City 61 mi, ~91m 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 37m	3h 55m	7h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$185	$46
Carbon footprint	119 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	13 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

294.9 mi 5h 36m

via I 70; US 40, I 29; US 71, I 435

Shortest (+13 min)

294.5 mi 5h 50m

via US 24; US 36; MO 110, I 64; US 40; US 61, US 36; MO 33

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