Drive or Fly: Woodbury, MN to Columbia Heights, 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 45m

Distance

131 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

53 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 28m

14m in the air

Air Distance

114 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Woodbury, MN → DLH 57m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Columbia Heights, MN 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Woodbury, MN DLH — Duluth International Airport 38 mi, ~57m drive

Columbia Heights, MN MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 11 mi, ~17m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

95.3%

Cancellation

4.7%

+ 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	2h 45m	3h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$125
Carbon footprint	53 kg CO₂	29 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	95% 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 Jun 3, 2026.

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