Drive or Fly: Westport, WI to Franklin, 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 DBQ–MKE. At 152 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 20m

Distance

152.6 mi

Total Cost

$69

CO2

62 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$34

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 51m

16m in the air

Air Distance

133 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

34 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Westport, WI → DBQ 83m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Franklin, WI 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

Westport, WI DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 56 mi, ~83m drive

Franklin, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 8 mi, ~12m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between DBQ 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

4h 29m

2h 21m on rail

Total Cost

$21

CO2

6 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Westport, WI → Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 78m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 141m

Arrival 10m

General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station → Franklin, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $21) $21

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

Stations

From Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 52 mi, ~78m drive

To General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 7 mi, ~10m 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

5h 9m

3h 18m on road

Total Cost

$12

CO2

6 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Westport, WI → Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) (WIS6) 74m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 198m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) → Franklin, WI 12m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $12) $12

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

Stations

From WIS6 — Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) 49 mi, ~74m drive

To 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 8 mi, ~12m 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	3h 20m	3h 51m	4h 29m	5h 9m
Total cost (1 person)	$69	$125	$21	$12
Carbon footprint	62 kg CO₂	34 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	6 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 15, 2026.

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