Drive or Fly: Junction City, KS to Chanute, KS?

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 MHK–JLN. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 16m

Distance

170.3 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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

4h 7m

14m in the air

Air Distance

119 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Junction City, KS → MHK 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JLN → Chanute, KS 96m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Junction City, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 12 mi, ~17m drive

Chanute, KS JLN — Joplin Regional Airport 64 mi, ~96m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHK and JLN. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 16m	4h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	30 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

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

170.3 mi 3h 16m

via I 70; US 40; KS 18, US 75; KS 31, US 75; KS 58

Alternative (+12 min)

186.5 mi 3h 28m

via I 70; US 40; KS 18, US 59, US 169

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Junction City, KS to Chanute, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.