Drive or Fly: Kettering, OH to Union City, OH?

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 DAY–DAY. At 53 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 14m

Distance

53 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 25m

6m in the air

Air Distance

49 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kettering, OH → DAY 23m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DAY → Union City, OH 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Kettering, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

Union City, OH DAY — James M. Cox Dayton International Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DAY and DAY. 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

4h 45m

1h 55m on rail

Total Cost

$10

CO2

3 kg

Route

Cardinal

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kettering, OH → Cincinnati Union Terminal 67m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 115m

Arrival 10m

Connersville Amtrak → Union City, OH 63m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From Cincinnati Union Terminal 45 mi, ~67m drive

To Connersville Amtrak 42 mi, ~63m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~5/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 5 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	1h 14m	3h 25m	4h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$10
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	12 kg CO₂	3 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Kettering, OH to Union City, OH with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.