Drive or Fly: Libby, MT to Great Falls, 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 FCA–GTF. At 312 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

6h 2m

Distance

312.5 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

126 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69

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

4h 5m

25m in the air

Air Distance

206 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Libby, MT → FCA 90m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GTF → Great Falls, MT 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Libby, MT FCA — Glacier Park International Airport 60 mi, ~90m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FCA and GTF. 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

8h 50m

6h 9m on rail

Total Cost

$34

CO2

10 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Libby, MT → Libby Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 369m

Arrival 10m

Shelby Amtrak Station → Great Falls, MT 111m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $34) $34

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

Stations

From Libby Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Shelby Amtrak Station 74 mi, ~111m 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 2m	4h 5m	8h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$183	$34
Carbon footprint	126 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	10 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 Libby, MT to Great Falls, MT with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.