Drive or Fly: Saint Joseph, MO to Arnold, 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 MCI–STL. At 309 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 55m

Distance

309.9 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

125 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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 54m

31m in the air

Air Distance

257 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → MCI 50m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STL → Arnold, MO 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Joseph, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

Arnold, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and STL. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 1m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 17m

5h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$46

CO2

13 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Joseph, MO → Kansas City 74m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 307m

Arrival 10m

Kirkwood Amtrak Station → Arnold, MO 16m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $46) $46

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

Stations

From Kansas City 49 mi, ~74m drive

To Kirkwood Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~16m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 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	5h 55m	3h 54m	7h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$185	$46
Carbon footprint	125 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	13 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

309.9 mi 5h 54m

via I 70; US 40, I 70, I 435

Alternative (+15 min)

310.5 mi 6h 10m

via US 36, US 61, I 270

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