Drive or Fly: Ankeny, IA to Des Moines, 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 12 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

16m

Distance

12.4 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

5 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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

2h 32m

1m in the air

Air Distance

9 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → DSM 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → Des Moines, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Ankeny, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Des Moines, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 5 mi, ~10m 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	16m	2h 32m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120
Carbon footprint	5 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

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 Ankeny, IA to Des Moines, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.