Drive or Fly: Columbia, MO to Taos, 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–MCI. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 14m

Distance

170.3 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 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 4m

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

MCI → Taos, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Taos, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between COU 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 31m

3h 15m on rail

Total Cost

$27

CO2

8 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Columbia, MO → Jefferson City Amtrak Station 41m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 195m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Taos, MO 55m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $27) $27

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

Stations

From Jefferson City Amtrak Station 27 mi, ~41m drive

To Kansas City 37 mi, ~55m 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 14m	3h 4m	5h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$27
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	36 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: 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 Columbia, MO to Taos, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.