Drive or Fly: Kearney, NE to Winnebago, 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–SUX. At 216 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 23m

Distance

216.5 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

87 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 49m

21m in the air

Air Distance

172 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kearney, NE → EAR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SUX → Winnebago, NE 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Winnebago, NE SUX — Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAR and SUX. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 13m

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 → Winnebago, NE 111m

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 74 mi, ~111m 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	4h 23m	2h 49m	7h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$182	$38
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	44 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

216.5 mi 4h 22m

via US 30, US 77, I 80

Alternative (+2 min)

235.7 mi 4h 25m

via I 80, US 77, Highway 77

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