Drive or Fly: Soldier, KS to Park City, 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–ICT. At 184 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 22m

Distance

184 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41

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 45m

17m in the air

Air Distance

140 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Soldier, KS → MHK 70m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ICT → Park City, KS 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Park City, KS ICT — Wichita Dwight D. Eisenhower National Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MHK and ICT. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 52m

2h 20m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0136

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 140m

Arrival 10m

Wichita Bus Stop (WTA6) → Park City, KS 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

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

To WTA6 — Wichita Bus Stop 8 mi, ~12m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 22m	3h 45m	3h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$126	$14
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	8 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

184 mi 3h 21m

via I 335, US 75, KS 254

Shortest (+17 min)

181.3 mi 3h 39m

via US 77, KS 16, US 50

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