Drive or Fly: East Independence, MO to Lebanon, 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 MCI–TBN. At 172 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 50m

Distance

172.5 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

16m in the air

Air Distance

134 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Independence, MO → MCI 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TBN → Lebanon, MO 43m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

East Independence, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Lebanon, MO TBN — Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field 29 mi, ~43m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and TBN. 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 19m

2h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Independence, MO → Independence Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 168m

Arrival 10m

Jefferson City Amtrak Station → Lebanon, MO 101m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Independence Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

To Jefferson City Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~101m 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 50m	3h 35m	5h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125	$25
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	34 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

172.5 mi 3h 49m

via MO 7, US 65, MO 291

Alternative (+2 min)

181.4 mi 3h 51m

via US 65, I 70, MO 64

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from East Independence, MO to Lebanon, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.