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Drive or Fly: Minnetonka, MN to Thomson, 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

2h 51m

Distance

151.1 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

61 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34
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

16m in the air

Air Distance

132 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Minnetonka, MN → MSP 21m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 16m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
DLH → Thomson, MN 23m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Minnetonka, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 14 mi, ~21m drive
Thomson, MN DLH — Duluth International Airport 16 mi, ~23m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.3%

Cancellation

4.7%

+ 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 2h 51m 3h
Total cost (1 person) $69 $125
Carbon footprint 61 kg CO2 34 kg CO2
Flexibility High Low
Luggage Unlimited Restricted
Reliability Weather dependent 95% 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.

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