Drive or Fly: Waterloo, IA to Algona, 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 ALO–FOD. At 137 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 52m

Distance

137.3 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 16m

12m in the air

Air Distance

104 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

26 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waterloo, IA → ALO 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FOD → Algona, IA 54m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Waterloo, IA ALO — Waterloo Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Algona, IA FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 36 mi, ~54m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ALO and FOD. 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 52m	3h 16m
Total cost (1 person)	$65	$124
Carbon footprint	55 kg CO₂	26 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

137.3 mi 2h 51m

via US 218; IA 27, US 18, US 218

Alternative (+7 min)

141.4 mi 2h 59m

via US 20; IA 27, US 169

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