Drive or Fly: Fulda, 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 FSD–MSP. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 35m

Distance

170.5 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 58m

17m in the air

Air Distance

138 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fulda, MN → FSD 90m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Minneapolis, MN 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Fulda, MN FSD — Sioux Falls Regional Airport 60 mi, ~90m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FSD 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 35m	3h 58m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	35 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

170.5 mi 3h 34m

via US 169, US 71; MN 60, MN 60

Alternative (+28 min)

183.6 mi 4h 3m

via US 212, MN 62, US 71

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