Drive or Fly: West Fargo, ND to Rolla, ND?

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 FAR–DVL. At 253 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 36m

Distance

253.5 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

102 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$56

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

4h 3m

22m in the air

Air Distance

186 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

47 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Fargo, ND → FAR 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DVL → Rolla, ND 91m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

West Fargo, ND FAR — Hector International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

Rolla, ND DVL — Devils Lake Regional Airport 61 mi, ~91m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between FAR and DVL. 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

5h 27m

3h 40m on rail

Total Cost

$36

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

West Fargo, ND → Fargo Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 220m

Arrival 10m

Rugby Amtrak Station → Rolla, ND 57m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $36) $36

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

Stations

From Fargo Amtrak Station 5 mi, ~10m drive

To Rugby Amtrak Station 38 mi, ~57m 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 36m	4h 3m	5h 27m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$182	$36
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	47 kg CO₂	11 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

253.5 mi 4h 35m

via I 29; US 81, ND 66, ND 5; ND 20

Shortest (+5 min)

252 mi 4h 40m

via I 29; US 81, US 2, ND 1

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from West Fargo, ND to Rolla, ND with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.