Drive or Fly: Norwalk, 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 182 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 24m

Distance

182.6 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

74 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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

2h 40m

20m in the air

Air Distance

164 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

42 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Norwalk, IA → DSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MLI → Bettendorf, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

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

4h 37m

3h 45m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Norwalk, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 17m

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 11 mi, ~17m 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	3h 24m	2h 40m	4h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$127	$18
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	42 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

182.6 mi 3h 24m

via I 80; US 6, IA 5, I 74

Alternative (+39 min)

206.9 mi 4h 3m

via US 30, I 80, US 65; IA 330

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