Drive or Fly: Ada, MN to Lakeville, MN?

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 FAR–MSP. At 277 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 24m

Distance

277.6 mi

Total Cost

$97

CO2

112 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$62

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 38m

29m in the air

Air Distance

241 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

62 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ada, MN → FAR 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 29m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Lakeville, MN 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Ada, MN FAR — Hector International Airport 30 mi, ~45m drive

Lakeville, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 16 mi, ~24m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FAR and MSP. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 4m

5h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$44

CO2

13 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ada, MN → Fargo Amtrak Station 47m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 304m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Lakeville, MN 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $44) $44

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

Stations

From Fargo Amtrak Station 32 mi, ~47m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 22 mi, ~33m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	5h 24m	3h 38m	7h 4m
Total cost (1 person)	$97	$185	$44
Carbon footprint	112 kg CO₂	62 kg CO₂	13 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Ada, MN to Lakeville, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.