Drive or Fly: Ankeny, IA to Lake Park, 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–FSD. At 211 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 26m

Distance

211.2 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

85 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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 27m

18m in the air

Air Distance

148 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → DSM 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FSD → Lake Park, IA 108m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Lake Park, IA FSD — Sioux Falls Regional Airport 72 mi, ~108m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and FSD. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	4h 26m	4h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$181
Carbon footprint	85 kg CO₂	38 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 Lake Park, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.