Drive or Fly: Kenosha, WI to Beaver Dam, 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–MSN. At 101 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 16m

Distance

101.6 mi

Total Cost

$58

CO2

41 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$23

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

3h 38m

10m in the air

Air Distance

79 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kenosha, WI → MKE 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Beaver Dam, WI 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

Kenosha, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

Beaver Dam, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 33 mi, ~50m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE 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 47m on rail

Total Cost

$14

CO2

4 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kenosha, WI → Sturtevant Amtrak Station 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 107m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → Beaver Dam, WI 18m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From Sturtevant Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Columbus Amtrak Station 12 mi, ~18m 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 19m

1h 35m on road

Total Cost

CO2

4 kg

Route

FlixBus 2550

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kenosha, WI → Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) 38m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 95m

Arrival 10m

Fond Du Lac (WisDOT Park&Ride 20-20) (5FD) → Beaver Dam, WI 41m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $7) $7

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

Stations

From 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

To 5FD — Fond Du Lac (WisDOT Park&Ride 20-20) 27 mi, ~41m 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 16m	3h 38m	3h	3h 19m
Total cost (1 person)	$58	$123	$14	$7
Carbon footprint	41 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	4 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 Kenosha, WI to Beaver Dam, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.