Drive or Fly: Ankeny, IA to Carroll, 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–FOD. At 89 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 57m

Distance

89.2 mi

Total Cost

$55

CO2

36 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$20

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 41m

8m in the air

Air Distance

69 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → DSM 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FOD → Carroll, IA 72m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Ankeny, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 14 mi, ~21m drive

Carroll, IA FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 48 mi, ~72m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

2h 9m

29m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

5 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ankeny, IA → Osceola Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 29m

Arrival 10m

Creston Amtrak → Carroll, IA 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From Osceola Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Creston Amtrak 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~1/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 1 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	1h 57m	3h 41m	2h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$55	$123	$6
Carbon footprint	36 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	5 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: Amtrak 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

89.2 mi 1h 56m

via US 30, I 35, I 35 Bus

Shortest (+4 min)

84.9 mi 2h 0m

via IA 141, US 71, IA 415

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