Drive or Fly: Epworth, IA to Des Moines, 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 DBQ–DSM. At 180 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 43m

Distance

180.2 mi

Total Cost

$75

CO2

73 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$40

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 46m

18m in the air

Air Distance

149 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Epworth, IA → DBQ 18m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → Des Moines, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Epworth, IA DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 12 mi, ~18m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DBQ and DSM. 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 24m

2h 15m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Epworth, IA → Iowa City (ICY6) 94m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 135m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From ICY6 — Iowa City 63 mi, ~94m drive

To DSM6 — Des Moines 2 mi, ~10m 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	3h 43m	2h 46m	4h 24m
Total cost (1 person)	$75	$126	$12
Carbon footprint	73 kg CO₂	38 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

180.2 mi 3h 42m

via US 151, US 30, IA 330

Alternative (+3 min)

183.3 mi 3h 46m

via US 20; US 52, IA 330, US 20; IA 27

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