Drive or Fly: Franklin, WI to Combined Locks, 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 MKE–ATW. At 114 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 17m

Distance

114.9 mi

Total Cost

$61

CO2

46 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$26

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 39m

12m in the air

Air Distance

96 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, WI → MKE 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

ATW → Combined Locks, WI 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

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

Combined Locks, WI ATW — Appleton International Airport 10 mi, ~15m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and ATW. 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

4h 11m

1h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

4 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 92m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → Combined Locks, WI 109m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

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

To Columbus Amtrak Station 73 mi, ~109m 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

3h 22m

2h 35m on road

Total Cost

$10

CO2

5 kg

Route

FlixBus 2550

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 155m

Arrival 10m

Appleton Transit Center (XWI6) → Combined Locks, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $10) $10

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

Stations

From 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

To XWI6 — Appleton Transit Center 5 mi, ~10m 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	2h 17m	2h 39m	4h 11m	3h 22m
Total cost (1 person)	$61	$124	$12	$10
Carbon footprint	46 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	5 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 12, 2026.

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