Drive or Fly: Waukee, IA to Clinton, 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 211 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 2m

Distance

211.9 mi

Total Cost

$82

CO2

86 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$47

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 31m

23m in the air

Air Distance

191 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

49 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukee, IA → DSM 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MLI → Clinton, IA 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Clinton, IA MLI — Quad City International Airport 32 mi, ~48m 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 10m

3h 45m on road

Total Cost

$18

CO2

12 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukee, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 225m

Arrival 10m

Moline Center Station (Metrolink) (MOL6) → Clinton, IA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From DSM6 — Des Moines 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MOL6 — Moline Center Station (Metrolink) 0 mi, ~30m 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	4h 2m	3h 31m	5h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$183	$18
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	49 kg CO₂	12 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 13, 2026.

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