Drive or Fly: Eagan, MN to New York Mills, 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 39m

Distance

183.9 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

74 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

19m in the air

Air Distance

159 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

41 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eagan, MN → MSP 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

BRD → New York Mills, MN 90m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

New York Mills, MN BRD — Brainerd Lakes Regional Airport 60 mi, ~90m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 38m

2h 57m on rail

Total Cost

$26

CO2

7 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eagan, MN → St. Paul-Minneapolis 16m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 177m

Arrival 10m

Staples Amtrak Station → New York Mills, MN 45m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $26) $26

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

Stations

From St. Paul-Minneapolis 11 mi, ~16m drive

To Staples Amtrak Station 30 mi, ~45m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 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	3h 39m	3h 59m	4h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$126	$26
Carbon footprint	74 kg CO₂	41 kg CO₂	7 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

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 May 16, 2026.

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