Drive or Fly: Merrillan, WI to Northfield, 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–EAU. At 14 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

23m

Distance

14 mi

Total Cost

$38

CO2

6 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$3

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 57m

2m in the air

Air Distance

13 mi

Total Cost

$121

CO2

3 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Merrillan, WI → EAU 64m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 2m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Northfield, WI 51m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $121) $121

Airports

Merrillan, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 43 mi, ~64m drive

Northfield, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 34 mi, ~51m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between EAU 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

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

3h 47m

1h 14m on rail

Total Cost

$11

CO2

3 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Merrillan, WI → Tomah Amtrak Station 54m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 74m

Arrival 10m

Winona → Northfield, WI 59m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $11) $11

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

Stations

From Tomah Amtrak Station 36 mi, ~54m drive

To Winona 39 mi, ~59m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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	23m	3h 57m	3h 47m
Total cost (1 person)	$38	$121	$11
Carbon footprint	6 kg CO₂	3 kg CO₂	3 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 Jun 4, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

14 mi 23m

via WI 121

Alternative (+0 min)

17.4 mi 24m

via I 94, WI 95

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