Drive or Fly: Keokuk, IA to Ankeny, 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 BRL–DSM. At 190 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 50m

Distance

190.3 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

77 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 24m

18m in the air

Air Distance

148 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Keokuk, IA → BRL 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DSM → Ankeny, IA 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Keokuk, IA BRL — Southeast Iowa Regional Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BRL 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

4h 38m

3h 15m on road

Total Cost

$15

CO2

8 kg

Route

Greyhound US0157S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Keokuk, IA → Burlington IA (FastBrake) (BIA6) 47m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 195m

Arrival 10m

Des Moines (DSM6) → Ankeny, IA 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From BIA6 — Burlington IA (FastBrake) 31 mi, ~47m drive

To DSM6 — Des Moines 7 mi, ~11m 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 50m	3h 24m	4h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$126	$15
Carbon footprint	77 kg CO₂	38 kg CO₂	8 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

190.3 mi 3h 49m

via US 63; IA 163, US 34; IA 163, US 218; IA 27

Alternative (+10 min)

205.5 mi 4h 0m

via I 80, US 218; IA 27, US 218

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