Drive or Fly: Great Falls, MT to Bigfork, MT?

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 GTF–FCA. At 216 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 11m

Distance

216.1 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

87 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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

2h 55m

16m in the air

Air Distance

134 mi

Total Cost

$180

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Great Falls, MT → GTF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FCA → Bigfork, MT 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Great Falls, MT GTF — Great Falls International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Bigfork, MT FCA — Glacier Park International Airport 19 mi, ~29m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GTF and FCA. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 33m

2h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$16

CO2

5 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Great Falls, MT → Shelby Amtrak Station 111m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 143m

Arrival 10m

Essex Amtrak → Bigfork, MT 39m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From Shelby Amtrak Station 74 mi, ~111m drive

To Essex Amtrak 26 mi, ~39m 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	4h 11m	2h 55m	5h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$180	$16
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	34 kg CO₂	5 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Great Falls, MT to Bigfork, MT with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.