Drive or Fly: City of Janesville, WI to Barton, 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 RFD–MKE. At 94 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 6m

Distance

94.8 mi

Total Cost

$56

CO2

38 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$21

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 55m

8m in the air

Air Distance

67 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

City of Janesville, WI → RFD 51m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 8m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Barton, WI 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

City of Janesville, WI RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

Barton, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RFD and MKE. 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

3h 45m

1h 10m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

3 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

City of Janesville, WI → Columbus Amtrak Station 68m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 70m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee → Barton, WI 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From Columbus Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~68m drive

To Milwaukee 31 mi, ~47m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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	2h 6m	3h 55m	3h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$56	$123	$12
Carbon footprint	38 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	3 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 12, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from City of Janesville, WI to Barton, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.