Drive or Fly: New Berlin, WI to Wisconsin Rapids, 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–CWA. At 167 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 16m

Distance

167.9 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 14m

16m in the air

Air Distance

129 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

33 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → MKE 16m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 16m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

CWA → Wisconsin Rapids, WI 42m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Wisconsin Rapids, WI CWA — Central Wisconsin Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE and CWA. 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

5h 7m

3h 7m on rail

Total Cost

$30

CO2

9 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

New Berlin, WI → General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 14m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 187m

Arrival 10m

Tomah Amtrak Station → Wisconsin Rapids, WI 66m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From General Mitchell Intl. Airport Amtrak Station 10 mi, ~14m drive

To Tomah Amtrak Station 44 mi, ~66m 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	3h 16m	3h 14m	5h 7m
Total cost (1 person)	$72	$125	$30
Carbon footprint	68 kg CO₂	33 kg CO₂	9 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

167.9 mi 3h 15m

via I 94, I 39, Adams Avenue

Shortest (+10 min)

162.4 mi 3h 26m

via I 41; US 41, US 10, CTH B

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