Drive or Fly: Waukee, IA to Le Mars, 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–SUX. At 212 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 58m

Distance

212.9 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 21m

17m in the air

Air Distance

142 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Waukee, IA → DSM 20m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SUX → Le Mars, IA 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Le Mars, IA SUX — Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field 30 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and SUX. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 58m	3h 21m
Total cost (1 person)	$82	$181
Carbon footprint	86 kg CO₂	36 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

212.9 mi 3h 57m

via I 80, I 29, US 20; US 75

Shortest (+19 min)

197.6 mi 4h 16m

via US 20, US 169, IA 140

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