Drive or Fly: Columbia, MO to Sainte Genevieve, 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 COU–BLV. At 173 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 30m

Distance

173.6 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 35m

17m in the air

Air Distance

141 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Columbia, MO → COU 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BLV → Sainte Genevieve, MO 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Columbia, MO COU — Columbia Regional Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Sainte Genevieve, MO BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between COU and BLV. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 56m

3h 13m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0175s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Columbia, MO → Columbia (Wabash Station) (CUC6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 193m

Arrival 10m

St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) → Sainte Genevieve, MO 68m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From CUC6 — Columbia (Wabash Station) 0 mi, ~10m drive

To SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 45 mi, ~68m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 30m	3h 35m	4h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$13
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	36 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: 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 18, 2026.

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