Drive or Fly: Guthrie Center, IA to West Des Moines, 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–DSM. At 56 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 9m

Distance

56.1 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

23 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 22m

5m in the air

Air Distance

41 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Guthrie Center, IA → DSM 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → West Des Moines, IA 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Guthrie Center, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DSM and DSM. 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

3h 18m

37m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

California Zephyr

Door-to-Door Timeline

Guthrie Center, IA → Creston Amtrak 65m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 37m

Arrival 10m

Osceola Amtrak Station → West Des Moines, IA 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

From Creston Amtrak 43 mi, ~65m drive

To Osceola Amtrak Station 37 mi, ~56m 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 9m	3h 22m	3h 18m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$6
Carbon footprint	23 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	2 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

56.1 mi 1h 9m

via I 80; US 6, IA 25, I 235

Shortest (+3 min)

49.2 mi 1h 12m

via IA 44, US 6, US 169

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