Drive or Fly: Racine, WI to Tainter Lake, 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–EAU. At 297 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

5h 40m

Distance

297.8 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

120 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$63

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 25m

31m in the air

Air Distance

256 mi

Total Cost

$185

CO2

65 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Racine, WI → MKE 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 31m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

EAU → Tainter Lake, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $130) $130

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Tainter Lake, WI EAU — Chippewa Valley Regional Airport 20 mi, ~30m drive

No scheduled flights found

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

+ Saves about 2h 15m 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

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

7h 40m

5h 43m on rail

Total Cost

$53

CO2

15 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Racine, WI → Sturtevant Amtrak Station 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 343m

Arrival 10m

Red Wing Amtrak Station → Tainter Lake, WI 67m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $53) $53

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

Stations

From Sturtevant Amtrak Station 6 mi, ~10m drive

To Red Wing Amtrak Station 45 mi, ~67m 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	5h 40m	3h 25m	7h 40m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$185	$53
Carbon footprint	120 kg CO₂	65 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: 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 3, 2026.

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