Drive or Fly: Lebanon, MO to East 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 TBN–MCI. At 172 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 48m

Distance

172.1 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 35m

16m in the air

Air Distance

134 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lebanon, MO → TBN 43m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → East Independence, MO 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Lebanon, MO TBN — Waynesville-St. Robert Regional Airport-Forney Field 29 mi, ~43m drive

East Independence, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between TBN 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 6m

2h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$25

CO2

7 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lebanon, MO → Jefferson City Amtrak Station 101m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 155m

Arrival 10m

Independence Amtrak Station → East Independence, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From Jefferson City Amtrak Station 68 mi, ~101m drive

To Independence Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	3h 48m	3h 35m	5h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125	$25
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	34 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: 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 15, 2026.

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