Drive or Fly: Ames, IA to Coo n Rapids, 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–FOD. At 68 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 36m

Distance

68.2 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

28 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

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

4h 19m

7m in the air

Air Distance

56 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

14 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → DSM 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 7m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FOD → Coo n Rapids, IA 80m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Coo n Rapids, IA FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 53 mi, ~80m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and FOD. 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

4h 21m

29m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → Osceola Amtrak Station 104m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 29m

Arrival 10m

Creston Amtrak → Coo n Rapids, IA 88m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From Osceola Amtrak Station 69 mi, ~104m drive

To Creston Amtrak 59 mi, ~88m 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 36m	4h 19m	4h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$122	$6
Carbon footprint	28 kg CO₂	14 kg CO₂	2 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

68.2 mi 1h 36m

via US 30, IA 25, 330th Street

Alternative (+3 min)

72 mi 1h 40m

via IA 141, US 30, US 169

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ames, IA to Coo n Rapids, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.