Drive or Fly: Saint Charles, MO to Merriam Woods, 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 STL–BKG. At 252 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 51m

Distance

252.4 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

102 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$56

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

2h 54m

25m in the air

Air Distance

205 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

52 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → STL 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BKG → Merriam Woods, MO 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Merriam Woods, MO BKG — Branson Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STL and BKG. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 8m

3h 40m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US1210

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Charles, MO → Saint Louis (Lambert Field) (SOL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 220m

Arrival 10m

Springfield CU Transit Center (SPR6) → Merriam Woods, MO 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From SOL6 — Saint Louis (Lambert Field) 7 mi, ~10m drive

To SPR6 — Springfield CU Transit Center 35 mi, ~53m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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

− Limited schedule — about 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 51m	2h 54m	5h 8m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$183	$21
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	52 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

252.4 mi 4h 50m

via I 44; US 50, US 65, I 270

Alternative (+44 min)

284.1 mi 5h 35m

via US 54, I 70, I 44

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Saint Charles, MO to Merriam Woods, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.