Drive or Fly: Minnetonka, MN to Albertville, 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–STC. At 30 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

37m

Distance

30 mi

Total Cost

$42

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$7

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 8m

3m in the air

Air Distance

24 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

6 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnetonka, MN → MSP 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

STC → Albertville, MN 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Minnetonka, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 14 mi, ~21m drive

Albertville, MN STC — Saint Cloud Regional Airport 29 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP and STC. 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

3h 57m

1h 56m on rail

Total Cost

$13

CO2

4 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnetonka, MN → St. Paul-Minneapolis 31m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 116m

Arrival 10m

St. Cloud Amtrak Station → Albertville, MN 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $13) $13

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

Stations

From St. Paul-Minneapolis 21 mi, ~31m drive

To St. Cloud Amtrak Station 33 mi, ~50m 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	37m	3h 8m	3h 57m
Total cost (1 person)	$42	$121	$13
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	4 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

30 mi 37m

via I 94, I 494

Shortest (+5 min)

28.8 mi 43m

via I 94, CR 101

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