Drive or Fly: Copeland, OK to Locust Grove, OK?

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 JLN–TUL. At 55 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 15m

Distance

55 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

22 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 2m

4m in the air

Air Distance

37 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Copeland, OK → JLN 58m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TUL → Locust Grove, OK 60m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Copeland, OK JLN — Joplin Regional Airport 39 mi, ~58m drive

Locust Grove, OK TUL — Tulsa International Airport 40 mi, ~60m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between JLN and TUL. 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 24m

2h on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Copeland, OK → Joplin Bus Station (JOP6) 50m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 120m

Arrival 10m

Tulsa Bus Station (TUL6) → Locust Grove, OK 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From JOP6 — Joplin Bus Station 34 mi, ~50m drive

To TUL6 — Tulsa Bus Station 46 mi, ~69m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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	1h 15m	4h 2m	4h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$121	$11
Carbon footprint	22 kg CO₂	9 kg CO₂	6 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Copeland, OK to Locust Grove, OK with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.