Drive or Fly: Leavenworth, KS to Washington, 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 144 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 6m

Distance

144.4 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

58 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 48m

14m in the air

Air Distance

119 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Leavenworth, KS → MCI 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MHK → Washington, KS 77m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Washington, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 51 mi, ~77m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 14m

3h 5m on road

Total Cost

$11

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 185m

Arrival 10m

Manhattan KS (MAH6) → Washington, KS 76m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

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

To MAH6 — Manhattan KS 51 mi, ~76m 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 6m	3h 48m	5h 14m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125	$11
Carbon footprint	58 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	6 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

144.4 mi 3h 5m

via US 36, US 73, US 73; K-7

Alternative (+28 min)

185 mi 3h 34m

via I 70, I 70; US 24; US 40, US 77

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