Drive or Fly: Britt, IA to Waterloo, 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 MCW–ALO. At 114 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 20m

Distance

114.5 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

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 56m

10m in the air

Air Distance

85 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

22 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Britt, IA → MCW 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALO → Waterloo, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Britt, IA MCW — Mason City Municipal Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Waterloo, IA ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MCW and ALO. 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	2h 20m	2h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$123
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	22 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

114.5 mi 2h 19m

via US 18; IA 27, US 18, US 218

Alternative (+21 min)

126.1 mi 2h 41m

via US 20, US 69, US 18

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