Drive or Fly: East Independence, MO to Mount Vernon, MO?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for MCI–SGF. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
3h 25m
Distance
170.2 mi
Total Cost
$73
CO2
69 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 31m
17m in the air
Air Distance
141 mi
Total Cost
$126
CO2
36 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between MCI and SGF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 3h 25m | 3h 31m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $73 | $126 |
| Carbon footprint | 69 kg CO2 | 36 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 17, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via I 49; US 71, MO 291, MO 96
via MO 13, MO 7, I 44
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from East Independence, MO to Mount Vernon, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.