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Drive or Fly: Greendale, WI to Stevens Point, 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–CWA. At 156 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:
Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 6m

Distance

156 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

63 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34
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 53m

16m in the air

Air Distance

135 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Greendale, WI → MKE 10m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 16m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
CWA → Stevens Point, WI 27m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Greendale, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive
Stevens Point, WI CWA — Central Wisconsin Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and CWA. 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

5h 26m

3h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$30

CO2

9 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Greendale, WI → General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 10m
Boarding 30m
Train ride 187m
Arrival 10m
Tomah Amtrak Station → Stevens Point, WI 89m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 4 mi, ~10m drive
To Tomah Amtrak Station 59 mi, ~89m 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

At a Glance

Drive Fly Train
Door-to-door time 3h 6m 2h 53m 5h 26m
Total cost (1 person) $69 $125 $30
Carbon footprint 63 kg CO2 34 kg CO2 9 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
156 mi 3h 6m

via I 41; US 41, US 10, I 41; I 894; US 41

Alternative (+14 min)
177.8 mi 3h 21m

via I 94, I 39, I 41; I 894; US 41

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