Drive or Fly: Leavenworth, KS to Grant, 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 MCI–SLN. At 218 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 23m

Distance

218.6 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

88 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

3h 44m

22m in the air

Air Distance

183 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → MCI 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SLN → Grant, KS 65m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Leavenworth, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Grant, KS SLN — Salina Municipal Airport 43 mi, ~65m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and SLN. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 35m

4h 35m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center (KSC6) 28m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 275m

Arrival 10m

Salina (Super 8) (SKS6) → Grant, KS 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From KSC6 — Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center 19 mi, ~28m drive

To SKS6 — Salina (Super 8) 45 mi, ~67m 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	4h 23m	3h 44m	6h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$182	$18
Carbon footprint	88 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	9 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 16, 2026.

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