Drive or Fly: Independence, MO to Saint Joseph, 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–MCI. At 65 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 18m

Distance

65.8 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

27 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

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 28m

6m in the air

Air Distance

52 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → MCI 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Saint Joseph, MO 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Saint Joseph, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and MCI. 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

2h 34m

30m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Independence, MO → Independence Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Saint Joseph, MO 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From Independence Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Kansas City 49 mi, ~74m 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

2h 1m

15m on road

Total Cost

CO2

0 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 15m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center (KSC6) → Saint Joseph, MO 69m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

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

To KSC6 — Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center 46 mi, ~69m 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	1h 18m	3h 28m	2h 34m	2h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$122	$2	$1
Carbon footprint	27 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	0 kg CO₂	0 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 15, 2026.

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