Drive or Fly: Union, MO to Jefferson City, 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–COU. At 77 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 42m

Distance

77.7 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

31 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 33m

8m in the air

Air Distance

64 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, MO → STL 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

COU → Jefferson City, MO 25m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Jefferson City, MO COU — Columbia Regional Airport 17 mi, ~25m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STL and COU. 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 21m

1h 19m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Missouri River Runner

Door-to-Door Timeline

Union, MO → Washington Amtrak Station 12m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 79m

Arrival 10m

Jefferson City Amtrak Station → Jefferson City, MO 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From Washington Amtrak Station 8 mi, ~12m drive

To Jefferson City Amtrak Station 0 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 42m	3h 33m	2h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$123	$13
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	4 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 12, 2026.

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