Drive or Fly: Des Moines, IA to Fayette, 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–ALO. At 161 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 38m

Distance

161.2 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

65 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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 19m

15m in the air

Air Distance

126 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Des Moines, IA → DSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALO → Fayette, IA 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Des Moines, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Fayette, IA ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM 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	3h 38m	3h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$125
Carbon footprint	65 kg CO₂	32 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

161.2 mi 3h 37m

via US 65; IA 330, IA 3, IA 14

Alternative (+2 min)

177 mi 3h 40m

via I 35, US 20, IA 3

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