Drive or Fly: Plentywood, MT to Great Falls, MT?

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 XWA–GTF. At 421 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

7h 59m

Distance

421.7 mi

Total Cost

$128

CO2

170 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$93

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

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 6m

39m in the air

Air Distance

323 mi

Total Cost

$188

CO2

82 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plentywood, MT → XWA 77m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 39m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

GTF → Great Falls, MT 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $133) $133

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Plentywood, MT XWA — Williston Basin International Airport 51 mi, ~77m drive

Great Falls, MT GTF — Great Falls International Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between XWA and GTF. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 3h 53m compared to driving

+ 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

11h 17m

7h 14m on rail

Total Cost

$76

CO2

22 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plentywood, MT → Williston Amtrak Station 92m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 434m

Arrival 10m

Shelby Amtrak Station → Great Falls, MT 111m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $76) $76

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

Stations

From Williston Amtrak Station 61 mi, ~92m drive

To Shelby Amtrak Station 74 mi, ~111m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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	7h 59m	4h 6m	11h 17m
Total cost (1 person)	$128	$188	$76
Carbon footprint	170 kg CO₂	82 kg CO₂	22 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Plentywood, MT to Great Falls, MT with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.