Drive or Fly: Holton, KS to Wichita, 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 MHK–ICT. At 171 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 2m

Distance

171.8 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 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 50m

18m in the air

Air Distance

150 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Holton, KS → MHK 82m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ICT → Wichita, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Holton, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 55 mi, ~82m drive

Wichita, KS ICT — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHK and ICT. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 38m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0136

Door-to-Door Timeline

Holton, KS → Topeka (BP To Go) (TKA6) 43m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

Wichita Bus Stop (WTA6) → Wichita, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From TKA6 — Topeka (BP To Go) 29 mi, ~43m drive

To WTA6 — Wichita Bus Stop 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 2m	3h 50m	3h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$14
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	8 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: FlixBus 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

171.8 mi 3h 2m

via I 335, US 75, US 54; US 400

Alternative (+26 min)

184.6 mi 3h 28m

via US 50, I 335, US 75

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