Drive or Fly: Plymouth, MN to Cross Lake, 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–BRD. At 138 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 58m

Distance

138.7 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 3m

14m in the air

Air Distance

118 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plymouth, MN → MSP 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRD → Cross Lake, MN 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Plymouth, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 15 mi, ~22m drive

Cross Lake, MN BRD — Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP 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

5h 3m

2h 57m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

7 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plymouth, MN → St. Paul-Minneapolis 28m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 177m

Arrival 10m

Staples Amtrak Station → Cross Lake, MN 58m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From St. Paul-Minneapolis 19 mi, ~28m drive

To Staples Amtrak Station 39 mi, ~58m 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	2h 58m	3h 3m	5h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$26
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	7 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Plymouth, MN to Cross Lake, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.