Drive or Fly: Leavenworth, KS to Madison, 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–MHK. At 137 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 43m

Distance

137.8 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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

4h 23m

13m in the air

Air Distance

104 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → MCI 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHK → Madison, KS 113m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Madison, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 75 mi, ~113m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and MHK. 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

6h 54m

3h 59m on rail

Total Cost

$33

CO2

10 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → Kansas City 36m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 239m

Arrival 10m

Newton → Madison, KS 99m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From Kansas City 24 mi, ~36m drive

To Newton 66 mi, ~99m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 30m

1h 55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 115m

Arrival 10m

Topeka (BP To Go) (TKA6) → Madison, KS 102m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

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

To TKA6 — Topeka (BP To Go) 68 mi, ~102m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 43m	4h 23m	6h 54m	4h 30m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124	$33	$6
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	10 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, 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

137.8 mi 2h 43m

via I 470, I 70; US 24; US 40, KS 99

Alternative (+6 min)

138.6 mi 2h 49m

via I 35; US 50; US 59, US 73; K-7, I 35; US 50; US 56

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