Drive or Fly: Buena Vista, WI to Bloomington, 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 24 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

38m

Distance

24.7 mi

Total Cost

$40

CO2

10 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$5

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 27m

2m in the air

Air Distance

17 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

4 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buena Vista, WI → DBQ 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DBQ → Bloomington, WI 53m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Buena Vista, WI DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 22 mi, ~32m drive

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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 1m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Buena Vista, WI → Madison (Madison Campus WI) (MADI) 105m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) (WIS6) → Bloomington, WI 111m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From MADI — Madison (Madison Campus WI) 70 mi, ~105m drive

To WIS6 — Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) 74 mi, ~111m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~14/week

+ Usually the cheapest option

+ Wi-Fi and power outlets on board

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	38m	3h 27m	5h 1m
Total cost (1 person)	$40	$121	$5
Carbon footprint	10 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	2 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: FlixBus 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 Buena Vista, WI to Bloomington, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.