Drive or Fly: Menomonee Falls, WI to Tomah, 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–LSE. At 164 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 8m

Distance

164 mi

Total Cost

$71

CO2

66 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$36

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 42m

16m in the air

Air Distance

132 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Menomonee Falls, WI → MKE 29m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LSE → Tomah, WI 57m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Menomonee Falls, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

Tomah, WI LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 38 mi, ~57m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and LSE. 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

4h 15m

2h 35m on rail

Total Cost

$29

CO2

10 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Menomonee Falls, WI → Milwaukee 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 155m

Arrival 10m

Tomah Amtrak Station → Tomah, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $29) $29

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

Stations

From Milwaukee 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Tomah Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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 8m	3h 42m	4h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$71	$125	$29
Carbon footprint	66 kg CO₂	34 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: 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

164 mi 3h 7m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, CTH F

Shortest (+9 min)

157.1 mi 3h 17m

via I 90; I 94, WI 33, WI 16

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