Drive or Fly: Midwest City, OK to Afton, OK?

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 OKC–JLN. At 183 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 17m

Distance

183 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41

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 38m

19m in the air

Air Distance

161 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

41 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Midwest City, OK → OKC 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JLN → Afton, OK 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Midwest City, OK OKC — OKC Will Rogers World Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

Afton, OK JLN — Joplin Regional Airport 41 mi, ~61m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between OKC and JLN. 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 47m

4h 19m on road

Total Cost

$22

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Midwest City, OK → Oklahoma City Bus Station (OKL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 259m

Arrival 10m

Joplin Bus Station (JOP6) → Afton, OK 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $22) $22

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

Stations

From OKL6 — Oklahoma City Bus Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To JOP6 — Joplin Bus Station 36 mi, ~53m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~15/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

− 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 17m	3h 38m	5h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$126	$22
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	41 kg CO₂	11 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Midwest City, OK to Afton, OK with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.