Drive or Fly: Shawnee, KS to Baker, 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 MCI–MCI. At 90 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 5m

Distance

90.1 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

36 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 58m

8m in the air

Air Distance

67 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → MCI 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Baker, KS 83m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Shawnee, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Baker, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 55 mi, ~83m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI 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

3h 49m

1h 44m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

3 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → Kansas City 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 104m

Arrival 10m

Topeka Amtrak Station → Baker, KS 73m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Kansas City 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Topeka Amtrak Station 49 mi, ~73m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 43m

1h 55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0180s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center (KSC6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 115m

Arrival 10m

Topeka (BP To Go) (TKA6) → Baker, KS 73m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From KSC6 — Kansas City 47Th St Transit Center 5 mi, ~10m drive

To TKA6 — Topeka (BP To Go) 49 mi, ~73m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 5m	3h 58m	3h 49m	3h 43m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$123	$12	$6
Carbon footprint	36 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	3 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, 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 14, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Shawnee, KS to Baker, KS with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.