Drive or Fly: Bloomington, WI to Preston, WI?

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 DBQ–DBQ. At 29 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

44m

Distance

29.4 mi

Total Cost

$41

CO2

12 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$6

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 56m

2m in the air

Air Distance

20 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

5 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bloomington, WI → DBQ 53m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DBQ → Preston, WI 61m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Bloomington, WI DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 35 mi, ~53m drive

Preston, WI DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 40 mi, ~61m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DBQ and DBQ. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 10m

1h 20m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

4 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Bloomington, WI → La Crosse 101m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 80m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station → Preston, WI 89m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From La Crosse 67 mi, ~101m drive

To Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 59 mi, ~89m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	44m	3h 56m	5h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$41	$121	$15
Carbon footprint	12 kg CO₂	5 kg CO₂	4 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 16, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Bloomington, WI to Preston, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.