Drive or Fly: Chisago City, MN to Minnetonka, 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 52 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 5m

Distance

52.5 mi

Total Cost

$47

CO2

21 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$12

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 23m

5m in the air

Air Distance

44 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chisago City, MN → MSP 57m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Minnetonka, MN 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Chisago City, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 38 mi, ~57m drive

Minnetonka, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 14 mi, ~21m 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

2h 17m

50m on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chisago City, MN → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 44m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 50m

Arrival 10m

Minneapolis Bus Station (MSD6) → Minnetonka, MN 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From 5HU — Hudson (WI) 29 mi, ~44m drive

To MSD6 — Minneapolis Bus Station 12 mi, ~18m 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	1h 5m	3h 23m	2h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$47	$122	$3
Carbon footprint	21 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	2 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

52.5 mi 1h 5m

via I 35W, MN 100, US 8

Alternative (+3 min)

56.3 mi 1h 8m

via US 169, I 35W, US 8

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