Drive or Fly: Plymouth, MN to Stewartville, 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 20m

Distance

111.7 mi

Total Cost

$60

CO2

45 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$25

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 43m

11m in the air

Air Distance

93 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plymouth, MN → MSP 22m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RST → Stewartville, MN 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Stewartville, MN RST — Rochester International Airport 4 mi, ~10m 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 6m

1h 52m on rail

Total Cost

$19

CO2

5 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Plymouth, MN → St. Paul-Minneapolis 28m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 112m

Arrival 10m

Winona → Stewartville, MN 66m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From St. Paul-Minneapolis 19 mi, ~28m drive

To Winona 44 mi, ~66m 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	2h 20m	2h 43m	4h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$60	$124	$19
Carbon footprint	45 kg CO₂	24 kg CO₂	5 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

111.7 mi 2h 20m

via US 52, MN 62, MN 55

Alternative (+6 min)

117.7 mi 2h 26m

via US 52, I 35W, I 494

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