Drive or Fly: Fayette, IA to West 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 ALO–DSM. At 167 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 46m

Distance

167.1 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 20m

16m in the air

Air Distance

131 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fayette, IA → ALO 54m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → West Des Moines, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

West Des Moines, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ALO 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 46m	3h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$125
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	33 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

167.1 mi 3h 45m

via IA 330, IA 14, IA 150

Alternative (+2 min)

183.2 mi 3h 48m

via I 35, US 20, IA 150

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