Drive or Fly: Gilbert, 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 DSM–DSM. At 47 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

51m

Distance

47.7 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

19 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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 13m

4m in the air

Air Distance

37 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

9 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gilbert, IA → DSM 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → West Des Moines, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Gilbert, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 40 mi, ~59m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM 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	51m	3h 13m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$121
Carbon footprint	19 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

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