Drive or Fly: New Berlin, WI to Lowell, 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–MSN. At 60 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

1h 14m

Distance

60.6 mi

Total Cost

$48

CO2

24 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$13

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 5m

5m in the air

Air Distance

44 mi

Total Cost

$122

CO2

11 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → MKE 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 5m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Lowell, WI 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $122) $122

Airports

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

Lowell, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 30 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE 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

2h 41m

1h 32m on rail

Total Cost

$12

CO2

4 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 92m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → Lowell, WI 15m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

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

To Columbus Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~15m 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

2h 28m

1h 5m on road

Total Cost

CO2

3 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 65m

Arrival 10m

Madison (Dutch Mill Park & Ride) (5MU) → Lowell, WI 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $6) $6

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

Stations

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

To 5MU — Madison (Dutch Mill Park & Ride) 32 mi, ~48m 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	1h 14m	3h 5m	2h 41m	2h 28m
Total cost (1 person)	$48	$122	$12	$6
Carbon footprint	24 kg CO₂	11 kg CO₂	4 kg CO₂	3 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 16, 2026.

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