Drive or Fly: Eagan, MN to Cross Lake, 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 33m

Distance

165.3 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

67 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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

2h 53m

16m in the air

Air Distance

136 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eagan, MN → MSP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRD → Cross Lake, MN 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Cross Lake, MN BRD — Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

98.0%

Cancellation

2.0%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 49m

3h 9m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

10 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 189m

Arrival 10m

Staples Amtrak Station (SPL) → Cross Lake, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

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

To SPL — Staples Amtrak Station 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	3h 33m	2h 53m	4h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$26
Carbon footprint	67 kg CO₂	35 kg CO₂	10 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	98% 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.

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