Drive or Fly: Bettendorf, IA to Carroll, 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 MLI–FOD. At 248 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 59m

Distance

248.6 mi

Total Cost

$90

CO2

100 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$55

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 49m

27m in the air

Air Distance

227 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

58 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bettendorf, IA → MLI 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 27m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FOD → Carroll, IA 72m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Bettendorf, IA MLI — Quad City International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Carroll, IA FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 48 mi, ~72m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MLI and FOD. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 28m

4h 5m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bettendorf, IA → Moline Center Station (Metrolink) (MOL6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 245m

Arrival 10m

Des Moines (DSM6) → Carroll, IA 108m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From MOL6 — Moline Center Station (Metrolink) 1 mi, ~10m drive

To DSM6 — Des Moines 72 mi, ~108m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 59m	3h 49m	6h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$90	$184	$18
Carbon footprint	100 kg CO₂	58 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: 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

248.6 mi 4h 59m

via US 30, I 80, US 218

Alternative (+3 min)

258.1 mi 5h 2m

via I 80, US 30, I 35

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