Drive or Fly: Sidney, MT to Polson, MT?

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

Driving wins

Medium

No direct flights for SDY–FCA. Driving is the practical choice at this distance.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

11h 39m

Distance

682.9 mi

Total Cost

$324

CO2

276 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$144

Hotel (1 room, 1 night) $110

Meals (1 pax, 2 days) $70

+ No luggage restrictions or TSA lines

+ Stop anywhere along the route

+ Have your own car at the destination

− Requires 2 days of driving

− Driver fatigue on longer stretches

− Wear and tear on vehicle

− Fuel price fluctuations

Plan the drive

Fly

Door to Door

4h 10m

56m in the air

Air Distance

465 mi

Total Cost

$194

CO2

119 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sidney, MT → SDY 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 56m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

FCA → Polson, MT 64m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $139) $139

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Sidney, MT SDY — Sidney - Richland Regional Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Polson, MT FCA — Glacier Park International Airport 43 mi, ~64m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between SDY and FCA. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 7h 29m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

12h 34m

9h 45m on rail

Total Cost

$92

CO2

27 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Sidney, MT → Williston Amtrak Station 58m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 585m

Arrival 10m

Essex Amtrak → Polson, MT 71m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $92) $92

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

Stations

From Williston Amtrak Station 38 mi, ~58m drive

To Essex Amtrak 48 mi, ~71m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ 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	11h 39m	4h 10m	12h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$324	$194	$92
Carbon footprint	276 kg CO₂	119 kg CO₂	27 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

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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

682.9 mi 11h 38m

via I 94, I 90, I 90; US 191

Shortest (+8 min)

598.8 mi 11h 47m

via US 2, I 15 Bus; US 2, MT 35

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Sidney, MT to Polson, MT with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.