Drive or Fly: Independence, KY to West Liberty, 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 CVG–HTS. At 128 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 46m

Distance

128.3 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

52 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 41m

12m in the air

Air Distance

99 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, KY → CVG 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HTS → West Liberty, KY 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Independence, KY CVG — Cincinnati Northern Kentucky International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

West Liberty, KY HTS — Tri-State Airport / Milton J. Ferguson Field 49 mi, ~74m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CVG and HTS. 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 48m

3h 8m on rail

Total Cost

$22

CO2

7 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, KY → Cincinnati Union Terminal 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 188m

Arrival 10m

Ashland Amtrak Station → West Liberty, KY 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From Cincinnati Union Terminal 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Ashland Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m 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	2h 46m	3h 41m	4h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$22
Carbon footprint	52 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	7 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

128.3 mi 2h 46m

via KY 9; AA, KY 32, KY 519

Alternative (+9 min)

152.6 mi 2h 56m

via I 75, I 64, KY 519

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