Drive or Fly: Shawnee, KS to La Crosse, 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–HYS. At 274 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 2m

Distance

274.2 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

111 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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 30m

30m in the air

Air Distance

250 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

64 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → MCI 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 30m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

HYS → La Crosse, KS 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

La Crosse, KS HYS — Hays Regional Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCI and HYS. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

9h 2m

6h 31m on rail

Total Cost

$62

CO2

18 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Shawnee, KS → Kansas City 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 391m

Arrival 10m

Dodge City Amtrak Station → La Crosse, KS 99m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $62) $62

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

Stations

From Kansas City 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Dodge City Amtrak Station 66 mi, ~99m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 2m	3h 30m	9h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$185	$62
Carbon footprint	111 kg CO₂	64 kg CO₂	18 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.

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