Drive or Fly: Junction City, KS to Riley County, 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–MHK. At 30 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

38m

Distance

30.8 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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 36m

2m in the air

Air Distance

19 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Junction City, KS → MHK 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHK → Riley County, KS 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Riley County, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHK and MHK. 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

1h 18m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Junction City, KS → Junction City (The Joint) (JCC6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Manhattan KS (MAH6) → Riley County, KS 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From JCC6 — Junction City (The Joint) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To MAH6 — Manhattan KS 12 mi, ~18m 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	38m	2h 36m	1h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$2
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	1 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

30.8 mi 44m

via KS 18, US 24, K-113

Alternative (+2 min)

33.7 mi 46m

via US 77, North Jackson Street

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