Drive or Fly: La Valle, WI to Merrimac, 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 MSN–MSN. At 35 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

59m

Distance

35.7 mi

Total Cost

$43

CO2

14 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$8

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 50m

3m in the air

Air Distance

29 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

7 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Valle, WI → MSN 75m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 3m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Merrimac, WI 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

La Valle, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 50 mi, ~75m drive

Merrimac, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 22 mi, ~32m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MSN 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 46m

18m on rail

Total Cost

CO2

1 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Valle, WI → Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 27m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 18m

Arrival 10m

Portage → Merrimac, WI 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $3) $3

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

Stations

From Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 18 mi, ~27m drive

To Portage 14 mi, ~21m 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	59m	3h 50m	1h 46m
Total cost (1 person)	$43	$121	$3
Carbon footprint	14 kg CO₂	7 kg CO₂	1 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

35.7 mi 59m

via WI 33, WI 23; WI 33

Alternative (+12 min)

43.8 mi 1h 11m

via US 12, WI 33, CTH H

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