Drive or Fly: Co on Rapids, MN to Blue Earth, 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–MCW. At 146 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 50m

Distance

146.6 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

59 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 54m

13m in the air

Air Distance

110 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

28 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Co on Rapids, MN → MSP 25m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 13m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MCW → Blue Earth, MN 76m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Co on Rapids, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 17 mi, ~25m drive

Blue Earth, MN MCW — Mason City Municipal Airport 51 mi, ~76m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP and MCW. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	2h 50m	3h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$124
Carbon footprint	59 kg CO₂	28 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

146.6 mi 2h 49m

via I 35W, I 90, I 94

Shortest (+5 min)

133.9 mi 2h 55m

via US 169, MN 100, US 169; MN 99

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