Drive or Fly: Fort Dodge, KS to Auburn, KS?

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 DDC–MHK. At 272 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 15m

Distance

272.2 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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 52m

29m in the air

Air Distance

238 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

61 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Dodge, KS → DDC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHK → Auburn, KS 73m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Fort Dodge, KS DDC — Dodge City Regional Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

Auburn, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 49 mi, ~73m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DDC and MHK. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 8m

4h 59m on rail

Total Cost

$50

CO2

15 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fort Dodge, KS → Dodge City Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 299m

Arrival 10m

Topeka Amtrak Station → Auburn, KS 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $50) $50

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

Stations

From Dodge City Amtrak Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Topeka Amtrak Station 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	5h 15m	3h 52m	6h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$185	$50
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	61 kg CO₂	15 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Fort Dodge, KS to Auburn, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.