Drive or Fly: Storm Lake, IA to Waukee, 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 FOD–DSM. At 136 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 26m

Distance

136.4 mi

Total Cost

$65

CO2

55 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$30

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 50m

12m in the air

Air Distance

98 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Storm Lake, IA → FOD 78m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → Waukee, IA 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Storm Lake, IA FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 52 mi, ~78m drive

Waukee, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 13 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FOD and DSM. 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	2h 26m	3h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124
Carbon footprint	55 kg CO₂	25 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 16, 2026.

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