Drive or Fly: Gilman, IA to Ferguson, 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 8 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

15m

Distance

8.3 mi

Total Cost

$37

CO2

3 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$2

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

4h 31m

1m in the air

Air Distance

6 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

1 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Gilman, IA → DSM 76m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ALO → Ferguson, IA 74m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Gilman, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 51 mi, ~76m drive

Ferguson, IA ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport 49 mi, ~74m 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	15m	4h 31m
Total cost (1 person)	$37	$120
Carbon footprint	3 kg CO₂	1 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

8.3 mi 14m

via E63, IA 146

Shortest (+4 min)

8.2 mi 18m

via Underwood Avenue, 330th Street

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