Drive or Fly: Ankeny, IA to West Burlington, 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–BRL. At 173 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 27m

Distance

173 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 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

2h 48m

17m in the air

Air Distance

142 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → DSM 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRL → West Burlington, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

West Burlington, IA BRL — Southeast Iowa Regional Airport 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and BRL. 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 53m

2h 50m on rail

Total Cost

$28

CO2

8 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → Osceola Amtrak Station 73m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 170m

Arrival 10m

Burlington Amtrak Station → West Burlington, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From Osceola Amtrak Station 49 mi, ~73m drive

To Burlington Amtrak Station 3 mi, ~10m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 31m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Davenport (Ground Transportation) (DAV6) → West Burlington, IA 85m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From DSM6 — Des Moines 7 mi, ~11m drive

To DAV6 — Davenport (Ground Transportation) 57 mi, ~85m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	3h 27m	2h 48m	4h 53m	5h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$28	$17
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	9 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, FlixBus 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

173 mi 3h 27m

via IA 163, US 34; IA 163, I 35

Alternative (+9 min)

187.9 mi 3h 36m

via I 80, US 218; IA 27, US 34; IA 163

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ankeny, IA to West Burlington, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.