Drive or Fly: Independence, MO to La Plata, 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–IRK. At 164 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 18m

Distance

164.6 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

66 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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

2h 57m

15m in the air

Air Distance

121 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → MCI 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

IRK → La Plata, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

La Plata, MO IRK — Kirksville Regional Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and IRK. 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

4h 16m

1h 50m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US1200

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 110m

Arrival 10m

Columbia (Midway Travel Plaza) (COM6) → La Plata, MO 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

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

To COM6 — Columbia (Midway Travel Plaza) 73 mi, ~109m 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 18m	2h 57m	4h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	66 kg CO₂	31 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: 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

164.6 mi 3h 18m

via US 36; MO 110, I 35; MO 110, US 63

Shortest (+16 min)

163.6 mi 3h 34m

via US 24, US 36; MO 5; MO 110, MO 11

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