Drive or Fly: Newton, KS to Lenexa, 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 ICT–MCI. At 168 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 10m

Distance

168.5 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 37m

19m in the air

Air Distance

154 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newton, KS → ICT 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Lenexa, KS 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Newton, KS ICT — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Lenexa, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ICT 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 38m

4h 30m on rail

Total Cost

$33

CO2

10 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Newton, KS → Newton 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 270m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Lenexa, KS 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $33) $33

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

Stations

From Newton 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Kansas City 12 mi, ~18m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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 10m	3h 37m	5h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$33
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	39 kg CO₂	10 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 Newton, KS to Lenexa, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.