Drive or Fly: Wauwatosa, WI to Arbor Vitae, 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–RHI. At 252 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

5h 2m

Distance

252.1 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 13m

26m in the air

Air Distance

214 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

55 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wauwatosa, WI → MKE 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RHI → Arbor Vitae, WI 33m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Wauwatosa, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Arbor Vitae, WI RHI — Rhinelander Oneida County Airport 22 mi, ~33m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and RHI. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 5m

4h 40m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wauwatosa, WI → Milwaukee Intermodal Station (MKE6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 280m

Arrival 10m

Wausau Transit Center (WAU6) → Arbor Vitae, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From MKE6 — Milwaukee Intermodal Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To WAU6 — Wausau Transit Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~7/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

− Limited schedule — about 7 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 2m	3h 13m	6h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$184	$17
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	55 kg CO₂	15 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: 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 Wauwatosa, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.