Drive or Fly: Dekorra, WI to Leeds Center, 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 MSN–MSN. At 16 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

27m

Distance

16.4 mi

Total Cost

$39

CO2

7 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$4

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

2h 56m

2m in the air

Air Distance

13 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dekorra, WI → MSN 34m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Leeds Center, WI 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Dekorra, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 23 mi, ~34m drive

Leeds Center, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 14 mi, ~20m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSN and MSN. 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

1h 39m

28m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dekorra, WI → Portage 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 28m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → Leeds Center, WI 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From Portage 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Columbus Amtrak Station 14 mi, ~21m 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

2h 22m

1h on road

Total Cost

CO2

2 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Dekorra, WI → Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) (WIS6) 29m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 60m

Arrival 10m

Madison (Madison Campus WI) (MADI) → Leeds Center, WI 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $5) $5

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

Stations

From WIS6 — Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) 20 mi, ~29m drive

To MADI — Madison (Madison Campus WI) 19 mi, ~28m 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	27m	2h 56m	1h 39m	2h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$39	$121	$5	$5
Carbon footprint	7 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	2 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: 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

16.4 mi 27m

via US 51

Alternative (+6 min)

19.2 mi 33m

via CTH J, WI 60, I 39; I 90; I 94

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