Drive or Fly: Forest Lake, MN to Blaine, 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 18 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

25m

Distance

18 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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 16m

2m in the air

Air Distance

15 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Forest Lake, MN → MSP 45m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Blaine, MN 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Forest Lake, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 30 mi, ~45m drive

Blaine, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 19 mi, ~29m 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

1h 47m

28m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Forest Lake, MN → Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) 35m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 28m

Arrival 10m

Minneapolis Bus Station (MSD6) → Blaine, MN 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 23 mi, ~35m drive

To MSD6 — Minneapolis Bus Station 13 mi, ~19m 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	25m	3h 16m	1h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$1
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	4 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

18 mi 24m

via I 35W, I 35, 109th Avenue Northeast

Alternative (+5 min)

21.2 mi 30m

via MN 65, West Broadway Avenue, CR 60

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