Drive or Fly: West Des Moines, IA to Bridgeport, 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–DBQ. At 206 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 55m

Distance

206.7 mi

Total Cost

$81

CO2

84 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$46

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 3m

20m in the air

Air Distance

163 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

41 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Des Moines, IA → DSM 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DBQ → Bridgeport, IA 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Bridgeport, IA DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and DBQ. 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 5m

3h 30m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

9 kg

Route

Greyhound US0155S

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Des Moines, IA → Des Moines (DSM6) 11m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 210m

Arrival 10m

Davenport (Ground Transportation) (DAV6) → Bridgeport, IA 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From DSM6 — Des Moines 7 mi, ~11m drive

To DAV6 — Davenport (Ground Transportation) 39 mi, ~59m 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	3h 55m	3h 3m	5h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$81	$182	$17
Carbon footprint	84 kg CO₂	41 kg CO₂	9 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 12, 2026.

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