Drive or Fly: New Berlin, WI to Saint Germain, 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–RHI. At 261 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 22m

Distance

261.9 mi

Total Cost

$84

CO2

106 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$49

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 10m

26m in the air

Air Distance

213 mi

Total Cost

$184

CO2

54 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → MKE 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 26m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

RHI → Saint Germain, WI 28m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $129) $129

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

New Berlin, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 11 mi, ~16m drive

Saint Germain, WI RHI — Rhinelander Oneida County Airport 19 mi, ~28m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and RHI. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Saves about 2h 12m compared to driving

+ 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

6h 5m

4h 40m on road

Total Cost

$17

CO2

15 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → Milwaukee Intermodal Station (MKE6) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 280m

Arrival 10m

Wausau Transit Center (WAU6) → Saint Germain, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From MKE6 — Milwaukee Intermodal Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

To WAU6 — Wausau Transit Center 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~8/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 8 trips per week

− Travel time longer than driving

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Bus
Door-to-door time	5h 22m	3h 10m	6h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$84	$184	$17
Carbon footprint	106 kg CO₂	54 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: 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 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

261.9 mi 5h 22m

via I 41; US 41, US 10, US 51; WI 29

Alternative (+3 min)

281.2 mi 5h 26m

via I 39, I 94, US 51; WI 29

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from New Berlin, WI to Saint Germain, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.