Drive or Fly: Ames, IA to Dallas Center, 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–DSM. At 43 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 5m

Distance

43.3 mi

Total Cost

$45

CO2

17 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$10

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 24m

4m in the air

Air Distance

30 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → DSM 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → Dallas Center, IA 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

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

Dallas Center, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and DSM. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	1h 5m	3h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$45	$121
Carbon footprint	17 kg CO₂	8 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

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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

43.3 mi 1h 4m

via IA 17, CR R22, US 30

Alternative (+2 min)

45.6 mi 1h 6m

via I 35, IA 44, Northwest 118th Avenue

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