Drive or Fly: Fitchburg, WI to Chippewa Falls, 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–EAU. At 194 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 50m

Distance

194.2 mi

Total Cost

$78

CO2

78 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$43

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 51m

20m in the air

Air Distance

167 mi

Total Cost

$127

CO2

43 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fitchburg, WI → MSN 21m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 20m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Chippewa Falls, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Airports

Fitchburg, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 14 mi, ~21m drive

Chippewa Falls, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 7 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSN and EAU. 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

6h 52m

3h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Fitchburg, WI → Columbus Amtrak Station 52m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 227m

Arrival 10m

Red Wing Amtrak Station → Chippewa Falls, WI 93m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Columbus Amtrak Station 35 mi, ~52m drive

To Red Wing Amtrak Station 62 mi, ~93m 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	3h 50m	2h 51m	6h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$78	$127	$39
Carbon footprint	78 kg CO₂	43 kg CO₂	11 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

194.2 mi 3h 50m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, US 12; WI 60

Alternative (+0 min)

205.5 mi 3h 50m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, I 39; I 90

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