Drive or Fly: Racine, WI to Trenton, 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 24m

Distance

323.2 mi

Total Cost

$103

CO2

131 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$68

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 53m

33m in the air

Air Distance

272 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

69 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Racine, WI → MKE 24m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 33m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSP → Trenton, WI 56m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

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

Trenton, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 38 mi, ~56m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ Saves about 2h 31m 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

6h 43m

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 → Trenton, WI 10m

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 3 mi, ~10m 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

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

8h 10m

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) → Trenton, WI 39m

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) 26 mi, ~39m 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 24m	3h 53m	6h 43m	8h 10m
Total cost (1 person)	$103	$186	$53	$30
Carbon footprint	131 kg CO₂	69 kg CO₂	15 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

323.2 mi 6h 23m

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

Alternative (+24 min)

329.3 mi 6h 47m

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

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