Drive or Fly: Colfax, WI to Kenosha, 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 302 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 43m

Distance

302.9 mi

Total Cost

$102

CO2

122 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$67

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 32m

31m in the air

Air Distance

256 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colfax, WI → EAU 23m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Kenosha, WI 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Colfax, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 15 mi, ~23m drive

Kenosha, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 11m 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

7h 44m

5h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$53

CO2

15 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colfax, WI → Red Wing Amtrak Station 74m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 335m

Arrival 10m

Sturtevant Amtrak Station → Kenosha, WI 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $53) $53

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

Stations

From Red Wing Amtrak Station 50 mi, ~74m drive

To Sturtevant Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m 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

7h 5m

5h 43m on road

Total Cost

$25

CO2

13 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Colfax, WI → Eau Claire (McDonald's) (5EU) 19m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 343m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) → Kenosha, WI 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $25) $25

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

Stations

From 5EU — Eau Claire (McDonald's) 13 mi, ~19m drive

To 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 25 mi, ~38m 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	5h 43m	3h 32m	7h 44m	7h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$102	$185	$53	$25
Carbon footprint	122 kg CO₂	65 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	13 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 Colfax, WI to Kenosha, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.