Drive or Fly: Arnolds Park, IA to Des Moines, IA?
Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.
Driving wins
MediumNo scheduled commercial flights found for FOD–DSM. At 206 miles, driving is the only practical option.
Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)
· · Fuel cost: $
Drive
Door to Door
4h 16m
Distance
206.2 mi
Total Cost
$81
CO2
83 kg
Cost Breakdown
Fly
Door to Door
4h 18m
17m in the air
Air Distance
145 mi
Total Cost
$181
CO2
37 kg
Door-to-Door Timeline
Cost Breakdown
Airports
No scheduled flights found
No commercial flights between FOD and DSM. Flight estimates above are theoretical.
At a Glance
| Drive | Fly | |
|---|---|---|
| Door-to-door time | 4h 16m | 4h 18m |
| Total cost (1 person) | $81 | $181 |
| Carbon footprint | 83 kg CO2 | 37 kg CO2 |
| Flexibility | High | Low |
| Luggage | Unlimited | Restricted |
| Reliability | Weather dependent | Data unavailable |
Costs are estimates. Actual flight prices vary by airline, date, and booking time. Drive costs based on OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices. Computed Apr 21, 2026.
Route Options
2 different routes between these cities.
via US 20; US 71, US 71, I 35
via US 71, US 30, IA 141
Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Arnolds Park, IA to Des Moines, IA with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.