Drive or Fly: Rushford, MN to Eagan, 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 LSE–MSP. At 121 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

1h 58m

Distance

121.4 mi

Total Cost

$62

CO2

49 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$27

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

12m in the air

Air Distance

98 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rushford, MN → LSE 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Eagan, MN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Rushford, MN LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

Eagan, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LSE 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 36m

1h 56m on rail

Total Cost

$19

CO2

7 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rushford, MN → Winona 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 116m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Eagan, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From Winona 0 mi, ~30m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

4h 23m

2h 58m on road

Total Cost

$16

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Rushford, MN → Tomah (McDonald's) (TOM6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 178m

Arrival 10m

Saint Paul Union Depot (STP6) → Eagan, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $16) $16

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

Stations

From TOM6 — Tomah (McDonald's) 0 mi, ~30m drive

To STP6 — Saint Paul Union Depot 0 mi, ~30m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	1h 58m	3h	3h 36m	4h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$62	$124	$19	$16
Carbon footprint	49 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	7 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, 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 Rushford, MN to Eagan, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.