Drive or Fly: Brooklyn Park, MN to Clinton, 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 44m

Distance

185.8 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

75 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$41

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

3h 59m

18m in the air

Air Distance

152 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

39 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Brooklyn Park, MN → MSP 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ATY → Clinton, MN 77m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Brooklyn Park, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 16 mi, ~24m drive

Clinton, MN ATY — Watertown Regional Airport 52 mi, ~77m 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 44m	3h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$126
Carbon footprint	75 kg CO₂	39 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 May 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

185.8 mi 3h 44m

via I 94, US 12, MN 23

Shortest (+8 min)

179.5 mi 3h 52m

via I 94, MN 28, US 75

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