Drive or Fly: Kenosha, WI to Mauston, 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 176 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 23m

Distance

176 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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

17m in the air

Air Distance

141 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

36 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kenosha, WI → MKE 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Mauston, WI 88m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

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

Mauston, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 59 mi, ~88m 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

2h 36m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kenosha, WI → Sturtevant Amtrak Station 15m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 156m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station → Mauston, WI 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Sturtevant Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m drive

To Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 19 mi, ~29m 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

4h 52m

3h 20m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 200m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) (WIS6) → Mauston, WI 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

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

To WIS6 — Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) 20 mi, ~29m 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	3h 23m	4h 23m	4h	4h 52m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$23	$12
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	36 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	6 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 16, 2026.

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