Drive or Fly: North Branch, MN to Chisago City, 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–MSP. At 12 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

23m

Distance

12.6 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

5 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

4h 6m

1m in the air

Air Distance

10 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Branch, MN → MSP 68m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Chisago City, MN 57m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

North Branch, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 45 mi, ~68m drive

Chisago City, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 38 mi, ~57m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP and MSP. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

2h 33m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

North Branch, MN → Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) 59m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Hudson (WI) (5HU) → Chisago City, MN 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $2) $2

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

Stations

From STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 39 mi, ~59m drive

To 5HU — Hudson (WI) 29 mi, ~44m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	23m	4h 6m	2h 33m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$120	$2
Carbon footprint	5 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	1 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: FlixBus 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 North Branch, MN to Chisago City, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.