Drive or Fly: Balsam Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI?

Side-by-side comparison of driving versus flying for this route. Costs, time, and trade-offs at a glance.

Driving wins

Medium

Short enough to drive comfortably in a day. Airport overhead makes flying slower door-to-door. Available flights require a connection, adding time and cost.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

6h 20m

Distance

325.6 mi

Total Cost

$96

CO2

132 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$61

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

4h 23m

32m in the air

Air Distance

266 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

68 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Balsam Lake, WI → MSP 82m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 32m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Menomonee Falls, WI 29m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Balsam Lake, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 54 mi, ~82m drive

Menomonee Falls, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 20 mi, ~29m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.3%

Cancellation

0.7%

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 38m

5h 58m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

19 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Balsam Lake, WI → St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 358m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee (MKE) → Menomonee Falls, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From MSP — St. Paul-Minneapolis 0 mi, ~30m drive

To MKE — Milwaukee 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/week

+ Spacious seating with legroom and power outlets

+ Walk around freely during the trip

+ Scenic views along the route

+ No driving fatigue — relax or work en route

+ Much lower carbon footprint than driving or flying

− Limited schedule — about 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 50m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Balsam Lake, WI → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 385m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee Intermodal Station (MKE6) → Menomonee Falls, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From 5HU — Hudson (WI) 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− 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	6h 20m	4h 23m	7h 38m	7h 50m
Total cost (1 person)	$96	$186	$58	$30
Carbon footprint	132 kg CO₂	68 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% on-time

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 Jul 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Balsam Lake, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.