Drive or Fly: Elkfork, KY to Richmond, KY?

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 HTS–LEX. At 95 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 4m

Distance

95.7 mi

Total Cost

$56

CO2

39 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$21

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 50m

8m in the air

Air Distance

65 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkfork, KY → HTS 63m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LEX → Richmond, KY 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Elkfork, KY HTS — Tri-State Airport / Milton J. Ferguson Field 42 mi, ~63m drive

Richmond, KY LEX — Blue Grass Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HTS and LEX. 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 8m

1h 38m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

4 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkfork, KY → Ashland Amtrak Station 67m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 98m

Arrival 10m

Maysville Amtrak Station → Richmond, KY 103m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Ashland Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~67m drive

To Maysville Amtrak Station 69 mi, ~103m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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 4m	3h 50m	5h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$56	$123	$12
Carbon footprint	39 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	4 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

95.7 mi 2h 4m

via Mountain Parkway, KY 52, KY 172

Alternative (+3 min)

101.5 mi 2h 7m

via I 64, KY 519, KY 627

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Elkfork, KY to Richmond, KY with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.