Drive or Fly: West Des Moines, IA to Alton, 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 235 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 22m

Distance

235.2 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

95 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 35m

18m in the air

Air Distance

153 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Des Moines, IA → DSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

SUX → Alton, IA 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Alton, IA SUX — Sioux Gateway Airport / Brigadier General Bud Day Field 45 mi, ~67m 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	4h 22m	3h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$181
Carbon footprint	95 kg CO₂	39 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from West Des Moines, IA to Alton, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.