Drive or Fly: Le Mars, 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
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for SUX–DSM. At 220 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
4h 7m
Distance
220.9 mi
Total Cost
$84
CO2
89 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
3h 12m
18m in the air
Air Distance
151 mi
Total Cost
$181
CO2
39 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between SUX and DSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 4h 7m | 3h 12m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $84 | $181 |
| Carbon footprint | 89 kg CO2 | 39 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
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.
via I 80, US 75, I 880
via US 20, US 169, IA 141
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Le Mars, IA to West Des Moines, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.