Drive or Fly: Saint Paul, MN to Tyler, MN?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

No scheduled commercial flights found for MSP–FSD. At 185 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 1m

Distance

185 mi

Total Cost

$76

CO2

75 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 56m

19m in the air

Air Distance

157 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Paul, MN → MSP 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FSD → Tyler, MN 85m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Saint Paul, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 8 mi, ~12m drive

Tyler, MN FSD — Sioux Falls Regional Airport 57 mi, ~85m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSP and FSD. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly
Door-to-door time	4h 1m	3h 56m
Total cost (1 person)	$76	$126
Carbon footprint	75 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	Data unavailable

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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

185 mi 4h 0m

via MN 19, US 212, MN 23

Alternative (+4 min)

188.3 mi 4h 5m

via US 14, US 212, MN 15

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