Drive or Fly: Saint Cloud, MN to Thief River Falls, 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 STC–TVF. At 230 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 27m

Distance

230.7 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

93 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 44m

24m in the air

Air Distance

201 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

51 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Cloud, MN → STC 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 24m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

TVF → Thief River Falls, MN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Cloud, MN STC — Saint Cloud Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Thief River Falls, MN TVF — Thief River Falls Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between STC and TVF. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 23m

4h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$43

CO2

12 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Cloud, MN → St. Cloud Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 265m

Arrival 10m

Grand Forks Amtrak Station → Thief River Falls, MN 68m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $43) $43

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

Stations

From St. Cloud Amtrak Station 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Grand Forks Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~68m 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	4h 27m	2h 44m	6h 23m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$183	$43
Carbon footprint	93 kg CO₂	51 kg CO₂	12 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

230.7 mi 4h 26m

via US 10, US 59; MN 34, US 10; IC A

Alternative (+22 min)

252.9 mi 4h 49m

via I 94, US 59; MN 34, US 59

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Saint Cloud, MN to Thief River Falls, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.