Drive or Fly: Box Elder, SD to Milbank, SD?

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 RAP–ATY. At 448 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 28m

Distance

448.5 mi

Total Cost

$134

CO2

181 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$99

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

3h 39m

39m in the air

Air Distance

325 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

83 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Box Elder, SD → RAP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ATY → Milbank, SD 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Box Elder, SD RAP — Rapid City Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Milbank, SD ATY — Watertown Regional Airport 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RAP and ATY. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 49m compared to driving

+ 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	7h 28m	3h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$134	$188
Carbon footprint	181 kg CO₂	83 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

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.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Box Elder, SD to Milbank, SD with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.