Drive or Fly: Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE?

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 EAR–OMA. At 189 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 27m

Distance

189.1 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

76 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 7m

18m in the air

Air Distance

151 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kearney, NE → EAR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OMA → Arlington, NE 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Kearney, NE EAR — Kearney Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Arlington, NE OMA — Eppley Airfield 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAR and OMA. 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

6h 1m

4h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

11 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kearney, NE → Holdrege 36m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 246m

Arrival 10m

Omaha Amtrak Station → Arlington, NE 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From Holdrege 24 mi, ~36m drive

To Omaha Amtrak Station 26 mi, ~39m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 27m	3h 7m	6h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$126	$38
Carbon footprint	76 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	11 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 — 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

189.1 mi 3h 27m

via I 80, US 77, US 77; N-92

Shortest (+2 min)

172.4 mi 3h 30m

via US 30, I 80, South Locust Street

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Kearney, NE to Arlington, NE with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.