Drive or Fly: Franklin, WI to Oakland, 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–DLH. At 358 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 48m

Distance

358.6 mi

Total Cost

$114

CO2

145 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$79

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

4h 23m

36m in the air

Air Distance

300 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, WI → MKE 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DLH → Oakland, WI 95m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Oakland, WI DLH — Duluth International Airport 63 mi, ~95m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 25m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

9h 6m

6h 45m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

16 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 405m

Arrival 10m

Hudson (WI) (5HU) → Oakland, WI 104m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

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

To 5HU — Hudson (WI) 69 mi, ~104m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	6h 48m	4h 23m	9h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$114	$187	$30
Carbon footprint	145 kg CO₂	77 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: 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.

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