Drive or Fly: La Plata, MO to Independence, MO?

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 IRK–MCI. At 164 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 19m

Distance

164.7 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

67 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 57m

15m in the air

Air Distance

121 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Plata, MO → IRK 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Independence, MO 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

La Plata, MO IRK — Kirksville Regional Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Independence, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 22 mi, ~32m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between IRK 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 16m

1h 50m on road

Total Cost

$13

CO2

7 kg

Route

Greyhound US1200

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Plata, MO → Columbia (Midway Travel Plaza) (COM6) 109m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 110m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) → Independence, MO 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From COM6 — Columbia (Midway Travel Plaza) 73 mi, ~109m drive

To KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 8 mi, ~12m 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	3h 19m	2h 57m	4h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$125	$13
Carbon footprint	67 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	7 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from La Plata, MO to Independence, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.