Drive or Fly: Detroit Lakes, MN to Minneapolis, 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 FAR–MSP. At 199 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 56m

Distance

199.4 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

81 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 42m

21m in the air

Air Distance

178 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit Lakes, MN → FAR 70m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Minneapolis, MN 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Detroit Lakes, MN FAR — Hector International Airport 46 mi, ~70m drive

Minneapolis, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 7 mi, ~11m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FAR 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

5h 10m

4h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit Lakes, MN → Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 246m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Minneapolis, MN 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 9 mi, ~14m 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	3h 56m	3h 42m	5h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$37
Carbon footprint	81 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂	11 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Detroit Lakes, MN to Minneapolis, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.