Drive or Fly: East Grand Forks, MN to Apple Valley, 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 GFK–MSP. At 335 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 5m

Distance

335.3 mi

Total Cost

$109

CO2

135 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$74

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

34m in the air

Air Distance

286 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

73 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Grand Forks, MN → GFK 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Apple Valley, MN 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

East Grand Forks, MN GFK — Grand Forks International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Apple Valley, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GFK and MSP. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 5m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 37m

6h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$56

CO2

16 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

East Grand Forks, MN → Grand Forks Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 383m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Apple Valley, MN 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $56) $56

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

Stations

From Grand Forks Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 16 mi, ~24m 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	6h 5m	3h	7h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$109	$186	$56
Carbon footprint	135 kg CO₂	73 kg CO₂	16 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from East Grand Forks, MN to Apple Valley, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.