Travel Cost from Waterloo to West Des Moines
Estimated cost to travel from Waterloo to West Des Moines: driving fuel around $101, or flights roughly $80–$250. Full budget breakdown.
Waterloo and West Des Moines are about 684 mi (1,100 km) apart in a straight line. By road that works out to roughly 807 mi (1,298 km), a drive of about 13 hr 40 min. A nonstop flight covers the great-circle distance in approximately 1 hr 45 min.
| Straight-line distance | 684 mi / 1,100 km |
| Road distance (est.) | 807 mi / 1,298 km |
| Driving time (est.) | 13 hr 40 min |
| Nonstop flight (est.) | 1 hr 45 min |
| Driving fuel (est., 1-way) | $101 |
| Typical flight fare | $80–$250 |
| Geographic midpoint | 42.712, -87.214 |
Sample budget
Driving fuel one-way is about $101. A simple road trip with one overnight stay and meals comes to roughly $321 for one traveler (fuel $101, lodging $120, food $100). Flights instead run about $80–$250 per person.
Customize in the cost calculatorHow these estimates work
Straight-line distance uses the haversine formula on each city's coordinates. Road distance applies a circuity factor (~1.2–1.4×) and driving time a blended average speed. Flight time uses typical jet cruise speed plus ~30 minutes for taxi, climb and descent. Treat all figures as planning estimates.
Frequently asked questions
Waterloo to West Des Moines is about 684 mi (1,100 km) in a straight line, and roughly 807 mi (1,298 km) by road.