Drive or Fly: New York Mills, MN to Ottertail, 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 BRD–BRD. At 14 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

20m

Distance

14.7 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

6 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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

5h 13m

1m in the air

Air Distance

11 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York Mills, MN → BRD 90m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRD → Ottertail, MN 102m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

New York Mills, MN BRD — Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport 60 mi, ~90m drive

Ottertail, MN BRD — Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport 68 mi, ~102m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between BRD and BRD. 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 7m

56m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

3 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

New York Mills, MN → Staples Amtrak Station 45m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 56m

Arrival 10m

Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station → Ottertail, MN 46m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Staples Amtrak Station 30 mi, ~45m drive

To Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station 30 mi, ~46m 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	20m	5h 13m	3h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120	$12
Carbon footprint	6 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	3 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 New York Mills, MN to Ottertail, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.