Drive or Fly: Menomonie, WI to City of Janesville, 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 EAU–RFD. At 233 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 39m

Distance

233.4 mi

Total Cost

$87

CO2

94 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$52

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 48m

25m in the air

Air Distance

209 mi

Total Cost

$183

CO2

53 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Menomonie, WI → EAU 32m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 25m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RFD → City of Janesville, WI 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $128) $128

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Menomonie, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 21 mi, ~32m drive

City of Janesville, WI RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAU and RFD. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 26m

3h 46m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

14 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Menomonie, WI → Red Wing Amtrak Station 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 226m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → City of Janesville, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Red Wing Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To Columbus Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m 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	3h 39m	3h 48m	5h 26m
Total cost (1 person)	$87	$183	$39
Carbon footprint	94 kg CO₂	53 kg CO₂	14 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 13, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Menomonie, WI to City of Janesville, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.