Drive or Fly: Eagan, MN to Madison Lake, 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 67 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 20m

Distance

67.2 mi

Total Cost

$50

CO2

27 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$15

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 39m

6m in the air

Air Distance

52 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

13 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eagan, MN → MSP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 6m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Madison Lake, MN 83m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Eagan, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Madison Lake, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 55 mi, ~83m 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 39m

28m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eagan, MN → Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) 16m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 28m

Arrival 10m

Minneapolis Bus Station (MSD6) → Madison Lake, MN 90m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 11 mi, ~16m drive

To MSD6 — Minneapolis Bus Station 60 mi, ~90m 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 20m	3h 39m	2h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$50	$122	$1
Carbon footprint	27 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂	1 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Eagan, MN to Madison Lake, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.