Drive or Fly: Oak Grove, MN to Apple Valley, 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 48 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 14m

Distance

48.9 mi

Total Cost

$46

CO2

20 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$11

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

5m in the air

Air Distance

42 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oak Grove, MN → MSP 48m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Apple Valley, MN 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

Oak Grove, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 32 mi, ~48m drive

Apple Valley, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 10 mi, ~15m 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

1h 51m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0150

Door-to-Door Timeline

Oak Grove, MN → Minneapolis Bus Station (MSD6) 37m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) → Apple Valley, MN 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From MSD6 — Minneapolis Bus Station 25 mi, ~37m drive

To STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 16 mi, ~24m 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	1h 14m	3h 8m	1h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$46	$122	$1
Carbon footprint	20 kg CO₂	11 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

48.9 mi 1h 14m

via MN 77, CR 78, I 94

Alternative (+4 min)

53.8 mi 1h 18m

via US 169, MN 77, MN 62

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Oak Grove, MN to Apple Valley, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.