Drive or Fly: Independence, MO to Herculaneum, 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 MCI–STL. At 257 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 59m

Distance

257.3 mi

Total Cost

$92

CO2

104 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$57

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 49m

27m in the air

Air Distance

225 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

57 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → MCI 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Herculaneum, MO 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Independence, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 22 mi, ~32m drive

Herculaneum, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 10m

4h 48m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

13 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → Independence Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 288m

Arrival 10m

Kirkwood Amtrak Station → Herculaneum, MO 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From Independence Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Kirkwood Amtrak Station 22 mi, ~32m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 17m

4h on road

Total Cost

$26

CO2

14 kg

Route

Greyhound US0136

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) 12m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 240m

Arrival 10m

St Louis Bus Station (SLD6) → Herculaneum, MO 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To SLD6 — St Louis Bus Station 26 mi, ~40m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 59m	3h 49m	6h 10m	5h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$92	$184	$44	$26
Carbon footprint	104 kg CO₂	57 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	14 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, 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

257.3 mi 4h 58m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, I 64; US 40; US 61

Alternative (+47 min)

273.6 mi 5h 46m

via US 50, I 70, US 65

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