Drive or Fly: Clayton, WI to Franklin, 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 EAU–MKE. At 315 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 4m

Distance

315.7 mi

Total Cost

$105

CO2

128 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$70

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 54m

32m in the air

Air Distance

266 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

68 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clayton, WI → EAU 70m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Franklin, WI 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Clayton, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 46 mi, ~70m drive

Franklin, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAU and MKE. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 10m compared to driving

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

8h 17m

6h 9m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

17 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clayton, WI → St. Paul-Minneapolis 78m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 369m

Arrival 10m

General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station → Franklin, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From St. Paul-Minneapolis 52 mi, ~78m drive

To General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 7 mi, ~10m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 20m

6h 48m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

16 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Clayton, WI → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 55m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 408m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) → Franklin, WI 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From 5HU — Hudson (WI) 37 mi, ~55m drive

To 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 8 mi, ~12m 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	Train	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 4m	3h 54m	8h 17m	8h 20m
Total cost (1 person)	$105	$186	$58	$30
Carbon footprint	128 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	16 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, 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 15, 2026.

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