Drive or Fly: Kenosha, WI to Buena Vista, 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–DBQ. At 168 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

4h 1m

Distance

168.3 mi

Total Cost

$72

CO2

68 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$37

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 28m

18m in the air

Air Distance

146 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kenosha, WI → MKE 38m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

DBQ → Buena Vista, WI 32m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Kenosha, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 25 mi, ~38m drive

Buena Vista, WI DBQ — Dubuque Regional Airport 22 mi, ~32m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and DBQ. 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

3h 35m

2h 10m on road

Total Cost

CO2

10 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 130m

Arrival 10m

Madison (Madison Campus WI) (MADI) → Buena Vista, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $8) $8

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

Stations

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

To MADI — Madison (Madison Campus WI) 0 mi, ~30m 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	Bus
Door-to-door time	4h 1m	3h 28m	3h 35m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$126	$8
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	10 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: 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

168.3 mi 4h 1m

via I 43, WI 50, WI 11; WI 69; WI 81

Alternative (+5 min)

201 mi 4h 6m

via US 18; US 151, I 94, I 41; I 94; US 41

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Kenosha, WI to Buena Vista, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.