Drive or Fly: Atwater, MN to Maple Grove, 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 STC–MSP. At 77 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 45m

Distance

77.5 mi

Total Cost

$52

CO2

31 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$17

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 41m

8m in the air

Air Distance

65 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

16 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atwater, MN → STC 67m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Maple Grove, MN 26m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Atwater, MN STC — Saint Cloud Regional Airport 45 mi, ~67m drive

Maple Grove, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 18 mi, ~26m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STC 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 15m

2h 1m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Atwater, MN → St. Cloud Amtrak Station 64m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 121m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Maple Grove, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From St. Cloud Amtrak Station 43 mi, ~64m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 20 mi, ~30m 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	1h 45m	3h 41m	4h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$52	$123	$13
Carbon footprint	31 kg CO₂	16 kg CO₂	4 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

77.5 mi 1h 45m

via US 12, I 494

Alternative (+6 min)

82.1 mi 1h 52m

via I 94, CR 37, US 12

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