Drive or Fly: Blaine, MN to Cottonwood, MN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

At this distance, driving is almost always faster and cheaper door-to-door.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 17m

Distance

152.9 mi

Total Cost

$67

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$32

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 37m

15m in the air

Air Distance

125 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

32 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Blaine, MN → MSP 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 15m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ATY → Cottonwood, MN 113m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Blaine, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 19 mi, ~29m drive

Cottonwood, MN ATY — Watertown Regional Airport 76 mi, ~113m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 17m	4h 37m
Total cost (1 person)	$67	$125
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	32 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% on-time

Drive data: OSRM routing, EIA fuel prices

Flight data: Statistical estimate

Airports: OurAirports

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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

152.9 mi 3h 17m

via US 212, MN 23; MN 67, MN 100

Alternative (+11 min)

173.4 mi 3h 28m

via MN 23, I 94, US 71; MN 23

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