Drive or Fly: Ulysses, KS to Kansas 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 GCK–MCI. At 412 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 58m

Distance

412.2 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

167 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$91

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 10m

46m in the air

Air Distance

380 mi

Total Cost

$190

CO2

97 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ulysses, KS → GCK 63m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 46m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → Kansas City, KS 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $135) $135

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ulysses, KS GCK — Garden City Regional Airport 42 mi, ~63m drive

Kansas City, KS MCI — Kansas City International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 3h 48m 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

9h 47m

8h 1m on rail

Total Cost

$70

CO2

20 kg

Route

Southwest Chief

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ulysses, KS → Garden City Amtrak Station 56m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 481m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City → Kansas City, KS 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $70) $70

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

Stations

From Garden City Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~56m drive

To Kansas City 3 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	7h 58m	4h 10m	9h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$126	$190	$70
Carbon footprint	167 kg CO₂	97 kg CO₂	20 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 15, 2026.

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