Drive or Fly: Minneapolis, MN to Detroit Lakes, 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–FAR. At 199 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 55m

Distance

199.1 mi

Total Cost

$79

CO2

80 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$44

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 42m

21m in the air

Air Distance

178 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

45 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minneapolis, MN → MSP 11m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FAR → Detroit Lakes, MN 70m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

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

Detroit Lakes, MN FAR — Hector International Airport 46 mi, ~70m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP and FAR. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 57m

3h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minneapolis, MN → St. Paul-Minneapolis 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 233m

Arrival 10m

Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station → Detroit Lakes, MN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From St. Paul-Minneapolis 9 mi, ~14m drive

To Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m 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	3h 55m	3h 42m	4h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$79	$127	$37
Carbon footprint	80 kg CO₂	45 kg CO₂	11 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 12, 2026.

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