Drive or Fly: Detroit Lakes, MN to Eagan, MN?

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

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 18m

Distance

216.5 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

87 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 43m

23m in the air

Air Distance

190 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit Lakes, MN → FAR 70m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Eagan, MN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Detroit Lakes, MN FAR — Hector International Airport 46 mi, ~70m drive

Eagan, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.2%

Cancellation

0.8%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 46m

4h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

13 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Detroit Lakes, MN → Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station (DLK) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 246m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) → Eagan, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From DLK — Detroit Lakes Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MSP — St. Paul-Minneapolis 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~10/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 10 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 18m	3h 43m	5h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$183	$37
Carbon footprint	87 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂	13 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

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 Jul 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

216.5 mi 4h 17m

via US 10, I 494, I 94

Alternative (+13 min)

239.7 mi 4h 31m

via I 94; MN 27, US 59, I 494

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