Drive or Fly: Franklin, WI to Lake Hallie, 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 MKE–EAU. At 252 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 43m

Distance

252.5 mi

Total Cost

$91

CO2

102 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

2h 48m

26m in the air

Air Distance

218 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

56 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, WI → MKE 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Lake Hallie, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Lake Hallie, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE 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

7h 42m

5h 25m on rail

Total Cost

$51

CO2

15 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 325m

Arrival 10m

Red Wing Amtrak Station → Lake Hallie, WI 87m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $51) $51

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

Stations

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

To Red Wing Amtrak Station 58 mi, ~87m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	4h 43m	2h 48m	7h 42m
Total cost (1 person)	$91	$184	$51
Carbon footprint	102 kg CO₂	56 kg CO₂	15 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 21, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

252.5 mi 4h 43m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, US 53

Alternative (+29 min)

259 mi 5h 12m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, WI 16

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