Drive or Fly: Crosby, ND to Valley City, 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 XWA–JMS. At 328 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 23m

Distance

328.1 mi

Total Cost

$104

CO2

133 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$69

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

34m in the air

Air Distance

281 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Crosby, ND → XWA 75m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

JMS → Valley City, ND 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Crosby, ND XWA — Williston Basin International Airport 50 mi, ~75m drive

Valley City, ND JMS — Jamestown Regional Airport 32 mi, ~48m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between XWA and JMS. 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

11h 29m

8h on rail

Total Cost

$66

CO2

19 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Crosby, ND → Williston Amtrak Station 83m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 480m

Arrival 10m

Fargo Amtrak Station → Valley City, ND 86m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $66) $66

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

Stations

From Williston Amtrak Station 55 mi, ~83m drive

To Fargo Amtrak Station 58 mi, ~86m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 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	6h 23m	4h 37m	11h 29m
Total cost (1 person)	$104	$186	$66
Carbon footprint	133 kg CO₂	72 kg CO₂	19 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

328.1 mi 6h 22m

via US 52, US 52; US 281, ND 5

Alternative (+11 min)

362.3 mi 6h 34m

via US 83, I 94, US 52

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Crosby, ND to Valley City, ND with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.