From Chelyabinsk to Stavrapol

I'm going to be in Chelyabinsk in July, and I would like to visit some friends in Stavrapol. I searched for a plane ticket, but no planes go directly from Chelyabinsk to Mineralny Vody (or however it's spelled) in Stavrapol. My only choice is to take Aeroflot from Chelyabinsk to Moscow to Stavrapol which is out of the way, and it seems pretty expensive. I was also wondering about the bus or train. Would it be cheaper this way? How long do they take? How far apart are Chelyabinsk and Stavrapol?

Go by plane via Moscow. It is most easy way for you.
If you go by train to Mineralny Vody, it needs 55 hours and cost about 4300 rub.
If you go by road, it is 2266 kilometres and about 40-50 hours.