Drive or Fly: Des Moines, IA to Independence, 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 134 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 52m

Distance

134.6 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

54 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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 3m

13m in the air

Air Distance

107 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

27 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Des Moines, IA → DSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALO → Independence, IA 40m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Independence, IA ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport 27 mi, ~40m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 13m

2h 10m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Des Moines, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 130m

Arrival 10m

Iowa City (ICY6) → Independence, IA 88m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From DSM6 — Des Moines 2 mi, ~10m drive

To ICY6 — Iowa City 59 mi, ~88m 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	2h 52m	3h 3m	4h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124	$12
Carbon footprint	54 kg CO₂	27 kg CO₂	6 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

134.6 mi 2h 51m

via US 20, US 65; IA 330, IA 14

Alternative (+2 min)

150.4 mi 2h 54m

via US 20, I 35, I 235

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