Drive or Fly: Racine, WI to Somerset, 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 31m

Distance

342.1 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

138 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$72

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 47m

35m in the air

Air Distance

294 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

75 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Racine, WI → MKE 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Somerset, WI 48m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Somerset, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 32 mi, ~48m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 44m 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 2m

6h 37m on rail

Total Cost

$60

CO2

17 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Racine, WI → Sturtevant Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 397m

Arrival 10m

St. Paul-Minneapolis → Somerset, WI 35m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $60) $60

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

Stations

From Sturtevant Amtrak Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To St. Paul-Minneapolis 24 mi, ~35m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 48m

6h 41m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

16 kg

Route

FlixBus 2548

Door-to-Door Timeline

Racine, WI → Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) 25m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 401m

Arrival 10m

Hudson (WI) (5HU) → Somerset, WI 17m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $30) $30

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

Stations

From 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 16 mi, ~25m drive

To 5HU — Hudson (WI) 11 mi, ~17m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~9/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 9 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 31m	3h 47m	8h 2m	7h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$107	$187	$60	$30
Carbon footprint	138 kg CO₂	75 kg CO₂	17 kg CO₂	16 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 Jun 3, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

342.1 mi 6h 30m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, WI 32

Shortest (+21 min)

341.6 mi 6h 52m

via I 94, I 90; I 94, I 39; I 90

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