Drive or Fly: Ames, IA to Belle Plaine, IA?

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 DSM–CID. At 76 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 34m

Distance

76.4 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 44m

8m in the air

Air Distance

70 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → DSM 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CID → Belle Plaine, IA 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Ames, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 35 mi, ~52m drive

Belle Plaine, IA CID — The Eastern Iowa Airport 29 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and CID. 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

5h 25m

1h 29m on rail

Total Cost

$14

CO2

4 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → Osceola Amtrak Station 104m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 89m

Arrival 10m

Ottumwa Amtrak Station → Belle Plaine, IA 92m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From Osceola Amtrak Station 69 mi, ~104m drive

To Ottumwa Amtrak Station 61 mi, ~92m 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

2h 42m

55m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 42m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 55m

Arrival 10m

Grinnell (GIA6) → Belle Plaine, IA 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From DSM6 — Des Moines 28 mi, ~42m drive

To GIA6 — Grinnell 27 mi, ~40m 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 34m	3h 44m	5h 25m	2h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$123	$14	$5
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	3 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 Ames, IA to Belle Plaine, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.