Drive or Fly: Apple Valley, MN to West Co on Rapids, 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 MSP–MSP. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

49m

Distance

35.1 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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

2h 49m

4m in the air

Air Distance

30 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

8 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Apple Valley, MN → MSP 15m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 4m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → West Co on Rapids, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Apple Valley, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 10 mi, ~15m drive

West Co on Rapids, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

1h 36m

28m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Apple Valley, MN → Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) 24m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 28m

Arrival 10m

Minneapolis Bus Station (MSD6) → West Co on Rapids, MN 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 16 mi, ~24m drive

To MSD6 — Minneapolis Bus Station 13 mi, ~19m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/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

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	49m	2h 49m	1h 36m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$1
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	8 kg CO₂	1 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

35.1 mi 48m

via CR 23, I 94; MN 55, I 35W

Alternative (+5 min)

40.8 mi 54m

via US 169, CR 23, I 494; MN 5

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Apple Valley, MN to West Co on Rapids, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.