Drive or Fly: Union, MO to East Independence, MO?

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 STL–MCI. At 212 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 14m

Distance

212.7 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

86 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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

22m in the air

Air Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, MO → STL 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCI → East Independence, MO 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Union, MO STL — St. Louis Lambert International Airport 40 mi, ~60m drive

East Independence, MO MCI — Kansas City International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STL 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 56m

3h 54m on rail

Total Cost

$38

CO2

11 kg

Route

Lincoln Service Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, MO → Washington Amtrak Station 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 234m

Arrival 10m

Independence Amtrak Station → East Independence, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $38) $38

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

Stations

From Washington Amtrak Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Independence Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/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 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 37m

4h 45m on road

Total Cost

$21

CO2

11 kg

Route

Greyhound US0175s

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, MO → Washington (WAS6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 285m

Arrival 10m

Kansas City Bus Station (KCD6) → East Independence, MO 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From WAS6 — Washington 7 mi, ~10m drive

To KCD6 — Kansas City Bus Station 11 mi, ~17m 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	4h 14m	3h 58m	4h 56m	5h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$182	$38	$21
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	11 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Union, MO to East Independence, MO with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.