Drive or Fly: Deerhead, KS to Lake City, KS?

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 DDC–DDC. At 13 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

39m

Distance

13.1 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

5 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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

5h 26m

1m in the air

Air Distance

9 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Deerhead, KS → DDC 102m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DDC → Lake City, KS 103m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Deerhead, KS DDC — Dodge City Regional Airport 68 mi, ~102m drive

Lake City, KS DDC — Dodge City Regional Airport 69 mi, ~103m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DDC and DDC. 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

6h 1m

1h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Deerhead, KS → Dodge City Amtrak Station 105m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 113m

Arrival 10m

Hutchinson Amtrak Station → Lake City, KS 103m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Dodge City Amtrak Station 70 mi, ~105m drive

To Hutchinson Amtrak Station 69 mi, ~103m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	39m	5h 26m	6h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120	$23
Carbon footprint	5 kg CO₂	2 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 18, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Deerhead, KS to Lake City, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.