Drive or Fly: Ames, IA to Carter Lake, 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–OMA. At 171 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 16m

Distance

171.4 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 18m

16m in the air

Air Distance

129 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → DSM 52m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OMA → Carter Lake, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Carter Lake, IA OMA — Eppley Airfield 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and OMA. 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 26m

2h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

10 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ames, IA → Osceola Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 166m

Arrival 10m

Omaha Amtrak Station → Carter Lake, IA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Osceola Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Omaha Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m 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	3h 16m	3h 18m	4h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125	$23
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂	10 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 Ames, IA to Carter Lake, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.