Drive or Fly: Malden, MO to Castle Point, 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 CGI–STL. At 196 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 52m

Distance

196.9 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 45m

18m in the air

Air Distance

153 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Malden, MO → CGI 77m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Castle Point, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Malden, MO CGI — Cape Girardeau Regional Airport 51 mi, ~77m drive

Castle Point, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CGI and STL. 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 16m

4h 41m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

8 kg

Route

Texas Eagle

Door-to-Door Timeline

Malden, MO → Poplar Bluff Amtrak Station 41m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 281m

Arrival 10m

St. Louis → Castle Point, MO 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From Poplar Bluff Amtrak Station 27 mi, ~41m drive

To St. Louis 10 mi, ~14m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 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 52m	3h 45m	6h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$126	$26
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	8 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Malden, MO to Castle Point, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.