Drive or Fly: Stevens Point, WI to Bristol, 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 CWA–MKE. At 190 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 45m

Distance

190.7 mi

Total Cost

$77

CO2

77 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$42

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 28m

19m in the air

Air Distance

156 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Stevens Point, WI → CWA 27m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Bristol, WI 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Stevens Point, WI CWA — Central Wisconsin Airport 18 mi, ~27m drive

Bristol, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CWA and MKE. 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

5h 45m

3h 16m on rail

Total Cost

$31

CO2

9 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Stevens Point, WI → Tomah Amtrak Station 89m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 196m

Arrival 10m

Sturtevant Amtrak Station → Bristol, WI 20m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $31) $31

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

Stations

From Tomah Amtrak Station 59 mi, ~89m drive

To Sturtevant Amtrak Station 13 mi, ~20m 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 45m	3h 28m	5h 45m
Total cost (1 person)	$77	$126	$31
Carbon footprint	77 kg CO₂	40 kg CO₂	9 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 15, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Stevens Point, WI to Bristol, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.