Drive or Fly: New Berlin, WI to Lima, 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–EAU. At 251 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

4h 50m

Distance

251.8 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

102 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$56

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 19m

26m in the air

Air Distance

220 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → MKE 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Lima, WI 37m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Berlin, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Lima, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 25 mi, ~37m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 9m

5h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 325m

Arrival 10m

Red Wing Amtrak Station → Lima, WI 50m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

From General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Red Wing Amtrak Station 33 mi, ~50m 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

6h 5m

5h on road

Total Cost

$23

CO2

12 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → Goerke's Corners Park & Ride (5WG) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 300m

Arrival 10m

Eau Claire (McDonald's) (5EU) → Lima, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From 5WG — Goerke's Corners Park & Ride 5 mi, ~10m drive

To 5EU — Eau Claire (McDonald's) 20 mi, ~30m 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	4h 50m	3h 19m	7h 9m	6h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$184	$51	$23
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	15 kg CO₂	12 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 12, 2026.

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