Drive or Fly: Thief River Falls, MN to Eden Prairie, 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 TVF–MSP. At 296 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 48m

Distance

296.5 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

120 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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 59m

31m in the air

Air Distance

260 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

66 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Thief River Falls, MN → TVF 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Eden Prairie, MN 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Thief River Falls, MN TVF — Thief River Falls Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

Eden Prairie, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 12 mi, ~18m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 49m 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

8h 3m

6h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$56

CO2

17 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Thief River Falls, MN → Grand Forks Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 383m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Eden Prairie, MN 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $56) $56

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

Stations

From Grand Forks Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	5h 48m	2h 59m	8h 3m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$185	$56
Carbon footprint	120 kg CO₂	66 kg CO₂	17 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 Apr 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

296.5 mi 5h 47m

via US 10, US 59, I 94

Alternative (+11 min)

318.5 mi 5h 59m

via US 59, I 94; MN 27, US 59; MN 34

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Thief River Falls, MN to Eden Prairie, MN with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.