Drive or Fly: Franklin, WI to New Richmond, 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

5h 53m

Distance

316.1 mi

Total Cost

$95

CO2

128 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$60

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 41m

33m in the air

Air Distance

272 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, WI → MKE 12m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → New Richmond, WI 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

New Richmond, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 37 mi, ~56m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.0%

Cancellation

6.0%

+ Saves about 2h 12m compared to driving

+ 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

8h 6m

6h 26m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

18 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, WI → General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station (MKA) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 386m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) → New Richmond, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

From MKA — General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 6m

6h 41m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

18 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Franklin, WI → Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 401m

Arrival 10m

Hudson (WI) (5HU) → New Richmond, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 0 mi, ~30m drive

To 5HU — Hudson (WI) 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 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	5h 53m	3h 41m	8h 6m	8h 6m
Total cost (1 person)	$95	$186	$58	$30
Carbon footprint	128 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂	18 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	94% 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 Franklin, WI to New Richmond, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.