Drive or Fly: Hamilton, IA to Pershing, 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 10 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

22m

Distance

10.1 mi

Total Cost

$37

CO2

4 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$2

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

4h 9m

1m in the air

Air Distance

8 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

2 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hamilton, IA → DSM 70m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → Pershing, IA 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Hamilton, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 47 mi, ~70m drive

Pershing, IA DSM — Des Moines International Airport 39 mi, ~58m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 46m

30m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Greyhound US0157S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Hamilton, IA → Oskaloosa (Precise Imaging) (OKO6) 24m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 30m

Arrival 10m

Monroe (Casey's General Store) (RNZ6) → Pershing, IA 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From OKO6 — Oskaloosa (Precise Imaging) 16 mi, ~24m drive

To RNZ6 — Monroe (Casey's General Store) 18 mi, ~27m 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	22m	4h 9m	1h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$37	$120	$3
Carbon footprint	4 kg CO₂	2 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: 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

10.1 mi 22m

via IA 5

Alternative (+5 min)

12.4 mi 27m

via CR G71

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