Drive or Fly: Prior Lake, MN to Lakeville, 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 11 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

17m

Distance

11.2 mi

Total Cost

$37

CO2

5 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$2

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

2h 48m

1m in the air

Air Distance

10 mi

Total Cost

$120

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Prior Lake, MN → MSP 23m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 1m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Lakeville, MN 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $120) $120

Airports

Prior Lake, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 15 mi, ~23m drive

Lakeville, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 16 mi, ~24m 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 53m

25m on road

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Greyhound US0150

Door-to-Door Timeline

Prior Lake, MN → Minneapolis Bus Station (MSD6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 25m

Arrival 10m

Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) → Lakeville, MN 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $1) $1

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

Stations

From MSD6 — Minneapolis Bus Station 20 mi, ~30m drive

To STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 22 mi, ~33m 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	17m	2h 48m	1h 53m
Total cost (1 person)	$37	$120	$1
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 13, 2026.

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