Drive or Fly: Dexter, MO to Castle Point, 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 CGI–STL. At 181 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 49m

Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

73 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 21m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dexter, MO → CGI 55m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Castle Point, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Dexter, MO CGI — Cape Girardeau Regional Airport 37 mi, ~55m drive

Castle Point, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CGI and STL. 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 21m

4h 41m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

10 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dexter, MO → Poplar Bluff Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 281m

Arrival 10m

St. Louis → Castle Point, MO 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Poplar Bluff Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To St. Louis 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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	2h 49m	3h 21m	6h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$125	$26
Carbon footprint	73 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	10 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 12, 2026.

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