Drive or Fly: Osceola, WI to Racine, 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

6h 53m

Distance

358.3 mi

Total Cost

$88

CO2

145 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$53

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 59m

36m in the air

Air Distance

303 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

77 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Osceola, WI → MSP 59m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 36m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Racine, WI 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Osceola, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 40 mi, ~59m drive

Racine, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 16 mi, ~24m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 54m 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 3m

6h 23m on rail

Total Cost

$60

CO2

21 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

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

Boarding 30m

Train ride 383m

Arrival 10m

Sturtevant Amtrak Station (SVT) → Racine, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $60) $60

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

Stations

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

To SVT — Sturtevant Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 15m

6h 50m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

21 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Osceola, WI → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 410m

Arrival 10m

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

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From 5HU — Hudson (WI) 0 mi, ~30m drive

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~6/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 6 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	6h 53m	3h 59m	8h 3m	8h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$88	$187	$60	$30
Carbon footprint	145 kg CO₂	77 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂	21 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	100% 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 Oct 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

358.3 mi 6h 52m

via I 94, WI 35, I 41; I 94; US 41

Alternative (+23 min)

362.4 mi 7h 16m

via I 94, I 39; I 90, WI 20

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