Drive or Fly: New Madrid, 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 CGI–MCI. At 389 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 59m

Distance

389.7 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

157 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$87

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 20m

38m in the air

Air Distance

315 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

80 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Madrid, MO → CGI 66m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 38m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → East Independence, MO 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Madrid, MO CGI — Cape Girardeau Regional Airport 44 mi, ~66m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CGI 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	5h 59m	4h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$122	$188
Carbon footprint	157 kg CO₂	80 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

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 New Madrid, MO to East Independence, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.