Drive or Fly: Esther, 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 BLV–STL. At 76 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 37m

Distance

76.3 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

31 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 48m

8m in the air

Air Distance

64 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Esther, MO → BLV 90m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Castle Point, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Esther, MO BLV — Scott AFB/Midamerica Airport 60 mi, ~90m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BLV 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

4h 29m

3h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

4 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Esther, MO → Arcadia Valley Station 29m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 186m

Arrival 10m

St. Louis → Castle Point, MO 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From Arcadia Valley Station 19 mi, ~29m drive

To St. Louis 10 mi, ~14m 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	1h 37m	3h 48m	4h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$123	$15
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	16 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

76.3 mi 1h 36m

via I 55, US 67

Shortest (+4 min)

73.1 mi 1h 40m

via US 67, I 55, Jennings Station Road

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