Headed to Iowa flight/airport recommendations

[RLCookie]

A group of us are heading to Iowa for the game. Going to fly out of BWI or possibly Dulles. What airports would be a reasonable drive (2-3 hours) to consider?

We can fly Spirit to Chicago but one of our group refuses to fly them after they cancelled one of his flights and refused to refund his money.

 

[martypsu]

A group of us are heading to Iowa for the game. Going to fly out of BWI or possibly Dulles. What airports would be a reasonable drive (2-3 hours) to consider?

We can fly Spirit to Chicago but one of our group refuses to fly them after they cancelled one of his flights and refused to refund his money.

I wouldn't fly them either. Uncomfortable planes, lousy service. You can have problems with other airlines, but it seems like you always do on Spirit

 

[CentrevilleLion]

Look for some flights into the Quad City airport (MLI) and you'll have a 1 hour interstate drive, all the way to Iowa City.

 

[Cincinnati Kid]

A group of us are heading to Iowa for the game. Going to fly out of BWI or possibly Dulles. What airports would be a reasonable drive (2-3 hours) to consider?

We can fly Spirit to Chicago but one of our group refuses to fly them after they cancelled one of his flights and refused to refund his money.

I fly into Cedar Rapids Airport (Eastern Iowa Airport). Only about a 25 minute drive to Iowa City.

 

[Wandering Spectator]

Cedar Rapids is closest but Des Moines is another option on the west side. Chicago is a fairly long drive but doable. We did it in 2008 and caught the Bulls game on Friday night and Bears games on Sunday. Unfortunately, there aren’t any games in Chicago that weekend that would work.

 

[pandaczar12]

The drive from midway wasn’t bad.

Be prepared, Iowa fans are the worst.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

I live here in Iowa. I would recommend Cedar Rapids. Like others have stated: only a few minutes from Iowa City. It's a mid size airport.... very easy to get in and out of. Very nice airport for a small city. Des Moines would be a second option. A little further away, however, interstate all the way. Good luck and enjoy the game.

 

[PSUinSTL]

Stl is a 4 hour drive. Done it a few times and it’s an easy drive

 

[NoVa Lion]

A group of us are heading to Iowa for the game. Going to fly out of BWI or possibly Dulles. What airports would be a reasonable drive (2-3 hours) to consider?

We can fly Spirit to Chicago but one of our group refuses to fly them after they cancelled one of his flights and refused to refund his money.

Unless you can get a direct flight to Des Moines (I did in 2013 for NCAA Wrestling Championships) fly to Chicago and rent a car. 3 hour drive to Iowa City. With a group the car rental and gas is really cheap.

 

[Nittany Ziggy]

I like the idea of getting in a few landmark visits while traveling to see the Nits play. Were heading to the Minnesota game this year. We are flying into Salt Lake and taking this route back to Minneapolis via Rapid City.​

 

[IANit]

I'd recommend Eastern Iowa (Cedar Rapids), Quad Cities then Des Moines. I've never flown in/out of Quad Cities, but it looks like a decent airport. All will be fairly easy drives, but you're probably at a little less than 30 mins, 60 mins or 90 mins. Eastern Iowa's probably going to cost a little more. If you're willing to drive 3-4 hours one way then Chicago or even St. Louis would be options.

 

[michnittlion]

Nobody has mentioned Waterloo or Dubuque yet --- AA does serve both from O'Hare. They're probably expensive though. And it's still a drive of 1-2 hours to Iowa City.

Peoria and Madison are also 3 hour or less drives, and airports that have flights from a few more cities.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

Nobody has mentioned Waterloo or Dubuque yet --- AA does serve both from O'Hare. They're probably expensive though. And it's still a drive of 1-2 hours to Iowa City.

Peoria and Madison are also 3 hour or less drives, and airports that have flights from a few more cities.

You can fly into Waterloo. I've checked prices many times and they are ALWAYS more expensive then Cedar Rapids. Dubuque is a GREAT small airport, however, I'm not sure of car rental and the drive is longer then Cedar Rapids.

 

[pointingdogsrule]

I like the idea of getting in a few landmark visits while traveling to see the Nits play. Were heading to the Minnesota game this year. We are flying into Salt Lake and taking this route back to Minneapolis via Rapid City.​

You should have a great trip..... only one problem. Don't trust this map, as both Deadwood and Mt. Rushmore are SOUTH of Rapid City (not north)

 

[RLCookie]

Thanks for all the advice. Lots of options to explore.

 

[81b&w]

There's a small airline out there named "Haney's". If you don't mind him dusting a few crops along the way it's pretty cheap