Drive or Fly: Lincoln, WI to Eau Claire, 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 GRB–EAU. At 219 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 27m

Distance

219.4 mi

Total Cost

$83

CO2

89 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$48

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 12m

23m in the air

Air Distance

190 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

48 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lincoln, WI → GRB 39m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 23m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Eau Claire, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Lincoln, WI GRB — Austin Straubel International Airport 26 mi, ~39m drive

Eau Claire, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between GRB and EAU. 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

5h 39m

4h 35m on road

Total Cost

$20

CO2

10 kg

Route

Greyhound US0150S

Door-to-Door Timeline

Lincoln, WI → Green Bay Transit Center (GRB6) 29m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 275m

Arrival 10m

Eau Claire (McDonald's) (5EU) → Eau Claire, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $20) $20

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

Stations

From GRB6 — Green Bay Transit Center 19 mi, ~29m drive

To 5EU — Eau Claire (McDonald's) 5 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 27m	3h 12m	5h 39m
Total cost (1 person)	$83	$183	$20
Carbon footprint	89 kg CO₂	48 kg CO₂	10 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 17, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

219.4 mi 4h 26m

via WI 29, WI 29; WI 47; WI 55, US 45; WI 29

Alternative (+40 min)

241.8 mi 5h 6m

via US 10, I 41; US 41, I 94

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