Drive or Fly: Blaine, MN to Jackson, 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–FOD. At 170 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 33m

Distance

170 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

69 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 51m

16m in the air

Air Distance

137 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Blaine, MN → MSP 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FOD → Jackson, MN 126m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Jackson, MN FOD — Fort Dodge Regional Airport 84 mi, ~126m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP and FOD. 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	3h 33m	4h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$125
Carbon footprint	69 kg CO₂	35 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

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 May 15, 2026.

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