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Drive or Fly: Plymouth, MN to Duluth, 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 2m

Distance

163.2 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

66 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 49m

17m in the air

Air Distance

139 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

35 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plymouth, MN → MSP 22m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 17m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
DLH → Duluth, MN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Plymouth, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 15 mi, ~22m drive
Duluth, MN DLH — Duluth International Airport 6 mi, ~10m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.1%

Cancellation

0.9%

+ 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 3h 2m 2h 49m
Total cost (1 person) $66 $126
Carbon footprint 66 kg CO2 35 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
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 Plymouth, MN to Duluth, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.