Drive or Fly: Soldier, KS to De Soto, 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 MHK–MCI. At 93 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 52m

Distance

93.8 mi

Total Cost

$56

CO2

38 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$21

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 57m

8m in the air

Air Distance

66 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Soldier, KS → MHK 70m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → De Soto, KS 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Soldier, KS MHK — Manhattan Regional Airport 47 mi, ~70m drive

De Soto, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHK 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

2h 24m

27m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Soldier, KS → Topeka Amtrak Station 56m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 27m

Arrival 10m

Lawrence Amtrak Station → De Soto, KS 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Topeka Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~56m drive

To Lawrence Amtrak Station 14 mi, ~21m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 9m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0136

Door-to-Door Timeline

Soldier, KS → Topeka (BP To Go) (TKA6) 55m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Lawrence Bus Stop (LWR6) → De Soto, KS 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From TKA6 — Topeka (BP To Go) 37 mi, ~55m drive

To LWR6 — Lawrence Bus Stop 16 mi, ~24m 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	1h 52m	3h 57m	2h 24m	2h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$56	$123	$5	$2
Carbon footprint	38 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	1 kg CO₂	1 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

93.8 mi 1h 52m

via US 75, KS 10, I 70

Shortest (+17 min)

88.7 mi 2h 9m

via KS 16, Ferguson Road, US 24

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