Drive or Fly: La Crosse, KS to Lenexa, 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 HYS–MCI. At 272 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

Distance

272.7 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

110 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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 39m

30m in the air

Air Distance

248 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

63 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Crosse, KS → HYS 33m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Lenexa, KS 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

La Crosse, KS HYS — Hays Regional Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

Lenexa, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between HYS and MCI. 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

9h 43m

7h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

18 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Crosse, KS → Dodge City Amtrak Station 99m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 426m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Lenexa, KS 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From Dodge City Amtrak Station 66 mi, ~99m drive

To Kansas City 12 mi, ~18m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 3 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	5h	3h 39m	9h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$185	$62
Carbon footprint	110 kg CO₂	63 kg CO₂	18 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

272.7 mi 4h 59m

via I 70; US 40, KS 10, KS 156

Alternative (+11 min)

274.2 mi 5h 11m

via I 35, US 56, US 56; KS 96

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from La Crosse, KS to Lenexa, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.