Cost of roundtrip travel from Minneapolis-St. Paul to Chicago for a long weekend, from Friday morning Sept. 9 to Monday afternoon Sept. 12.

Greyhound bus

Leaves Minneapolis: 6:45 a.m.

One-way trip time: 9 hours, 45 minutes

Cost: $98 (Seven-day advance purchase)

Amtrak train

Leaves St. Paul: 7:35 a.m.

One-way trip time: 8 hours, 5 minutes

Cost: $122 (coach seat).

Northwest Airlines

Leaves Twin Cities: 9:02 a.m. One-way trip time: 1 hour, 22 minutes

Cost: $156.90 (coach seat)

Drive yourself

Leave Twin Cities: 7:30 a.m.

One-way average trip time: 6 hours and 39 minutes

Cost: If your car averages 20 mpg, gas will cost $104.55 at $2.55 a gallon.

Patrick Kennedy