Drive or Fly: Eau Claire, WI to Excelsior, 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 EAU–LSE. At 139 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 7m

Distance

139.7 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

56 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 44m

14m in the air

Air Distance

116 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

30 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eau Claire, WI → EAU 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LSE → Excelsior, WI 80m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Excelsior, WI LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 54 mi, ~80m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAU and LSE. 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

5h 11m

1h 56m on rail

Total Cost

$19

CO2

6 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eau Claire, WI → Winona 80m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 116m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station → Excelsior, WI 75m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $19) $19

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

Stations

From Winona 53 mi, ~80m drive

To Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 50 mi, ~75m 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

3h 51m

2h 5m on road

Total Cost

$14

CO2

7 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Eau Claire, WI → Eau Claire (McDonald's) (5EU) 10m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 125m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) (WIS6) → Excelsior, WI 71m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $14) $14

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

Stations

From 5EU — Eau Claire (McDonald's) 5 mi, ~10m drive

To WIS6 — Wisconsin Dells (McDonald's Commerce St) 47 mi, ~71m 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 7m	3h 44m	5h 11m	3h 51m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$19	$14
Carbon footprint	56 kg CO₂	30 kg CO₂	6 kg CO₂	7 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

139.7 mi 3h 7m

via WI 27, I 94, US 61; WI 131

Alternative (+34 min)

154.5 mi 3h 41m

via WI 93, US 53; WI 93, US 61; WI 131

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