Drive or Fly: Chilton, WI to Eau Claire, 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 ATW–EAU. At 205 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 27m

Distance

205.6 mi

Total Cost

$85

CO2

83 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$50

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 7m

21m in the air

Air Distance

173 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

44 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chilton, WI → ATW 36m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 21m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Eau Claire, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Chilton, WI ATW — Appleton International Airport 24 mi, ~36m drive

Eau Claire, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 4 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ATW and EAU. 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

6h 15m

2h 39m on rail

Total Cost

$28

CO2

8 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Chilton, WI → Columbus Amtrak Station (CBS) 96m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 159m

Arrival 10m

Winona (WIN) → Eau Claire, WI 80m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $28) $28

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

Stations

From CBS — Columbus Amtrak Station 64 mi, ~96m drive

To WIN — Winona 53 mi, ~80m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~12/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 12 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	4h 27m	3h 7m	6h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$85	$182	$28
Carbon footprint	83 kg CO₂	44 kg CO₂	8 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 Oct 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

205.6 mi 4h 26m

via US 10, I 94, WI 114

Alternative (+4 min)

222.7 mi 4h 30m

via WI 29, US 10, I 39; US 51

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