Drive or Fly: Buffalo, IA to Council Bluffs, 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–OMA. At 298 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 31m

Distance

298.7 mi

Total Cost

$101

CO2

121 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$66

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 59m

32m in the air

Air Distance

267 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

68 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, IA → MLI 17m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OMA → Council Bluffs, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Buffalo, IA MLI — Quad City International Airport 11 mi, ~17m drive

Council Bluffs, IA OMA — Eppley Airfield 3 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MLI and OMA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 32m compared to driving

+ 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 16m

6h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

17 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buffalo, IA → Galesburg Amtrak Station 60m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 386m

Arrival 10m

Omaha Amtrak Station → Council Bluffs, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From Galesburg Amtrak Station 40 mi, ~60m drive

To Omaha Amtrak Station 4 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	5h 31m	2h 59m	8h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$101	$186	$58
Carbon footprint	121 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	17 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 — 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

298.7 mi 5h 31m

via I 80, I 280

Alternative (+47 min)

301.9 mi 6h 18m

via I 80, IA 92, IA 5

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