Drive or Fly: City of Janesville, WI to Spring Valley, 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 RFD–EAU. At 255 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 45m

Distance

255.5 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

103 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

4h 13m

26m in the air

Air Distance

219 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

City of Janesville, WI → RFD 51m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Spring Valley, WI 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

City of Janesville, WI RFD — Chicago Rockford International Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

Spring Valley, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 37 mi, ~56m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between RFD 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 11m

3h 47m on rail

Total Cost

$39

CO2

11 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

City of Janesville, WI → Columbus Amtrak Station 68m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 227m

Arrival 10m

Red Wing Amtrak Station → Spring Valley, WI 36m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $39) $39

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

Stations

From Columbus Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~68m drive

To Red Wing Amtrak Station 24 mi, ~36m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 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 45m	4h 13m	6h 11m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$184	$39
Carbon footprint	103 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	11 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 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from City of Janesville, WI to Spring Valley, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.