Drive or Fly: Indiana, IA to Avoca, 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–OMA. At 140 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 42m

Distance

140.8 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

57 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 2m

15m in the air

Air Distance

121 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

31 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Indiana, IA → DSM 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

OMA → Avoca, IA 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Indiana, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 40 mi, ~60m drive

Avoca, IA OMA — Eppley Airfield 31 mi, ~47m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and OMA. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 35m

4h 12m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Indiana, IA → Ottumwa Amtrak Station 51m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 252m

Arrival 10m

Omaha Amtrak Station → Avoca, IA 52m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Ottumwa Amtrak Station 34 mi, ~51m drive

To Omaha Amtrak Station 34 mi, ~52m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	2h 42m	4h 2m	6h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$37
Carbon footprint	57 kg CO₂	31 kg CO₂	11 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: Amtrak 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 12, 2026.

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