Drive or Fly: Independence, MO to Monroe City, 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–UIN. At 185 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 42m

Distance

185.8 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

75 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41

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 42m

18m in the air

Air Distance

148 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → MCI 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

UIN → Monroe City, MO 52m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Monroe City, MO UIN — Quincy Regional Airport Baldwin Field 35 mi, ~52m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and UIN. 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

5h 17m

3h 13m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US0175s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 193m

Arrival 10m

Columbia (Wabash Station) (CUC6) → Monroe City, MO 87m

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 CUC6 — Columbia (Wabash Station) 58 mi, ~87m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− 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 42m	3h 42m	5h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$126	$13
Carbon footprint	75 kg CO₂	38 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.

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