Drive or Fly: Nevada, IA to Bettendorf, 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–MLI. At 174 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 45m

Distance

174.7 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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 22m

19m in the air

Air Distance

155 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Nevada, IA → DSM 53m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MLI → Bettendorf, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Nevada, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

Bettendorf, IA MLI — Quad City International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and MLI. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 2m

3h 45m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Nevada, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 42m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 225m

Arrival 10m

Moline Center Station (Metrolink) (MOL6) → Bettendorf, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From DSM6 — Des Moines 28 mi, ~42m drive

To MOL6 — Moline Center Station (Metrolink) 1 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	2h 45m	3h 22m	5h 2m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$18
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	40 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

Transit: FlixBus 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

174.9 mi 3h 22m

via US 30, I 80, I 380; US 218; IA 27

Alternative (+7 min)

180.8 mi 3h 30m

via I 80; US 6, US 65, IA 117

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