Drive or Fly: Minot, ND to Thompson, ND?

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 MOT–GFK. At 222 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 28m

Distance

222.9 mi

Total Cost

$84

CO2

90 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$49

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 53m

24m in the air

Air Distance

196 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

50 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minot, ND → MOT 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GFK → Thompson, ND 19m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Minot, ND MOT — Minot International Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Thompson, ND GFK — Grand Forks International Airport 13 mi, ~19m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MOT and GFK. 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

4h 22m

3h 17m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minot, ND → Minot Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 197m

Arrival 10m

Grand Forks Amtrak Station → Thompson, ND 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Minot Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~10m drive

To Grand Forks Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m 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 28m	2h 53m	4h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$84	$183	$39
Carbon footprint	90 kg CO₂	50 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

222.9 mi 4h 27m

via ND 15, US 52, US 52 Business

Shortest (+2 min)

220.4 mi 4h 30m

via US 2, US 2; US 281, US 2; ND 14

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Minot, ND to Thompson, ND with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.