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Drive or Fly: Roberts, WI to West Allis, 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

5h 26m

Distance

297.9 mi

Total Cost

$107

CO2

120 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 33m

32m in the air

Air Distance

264 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

67 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roberts, WI → MSP 50m
Check-in & Security 90m
Flight 32m
Arrival & Baggage 30m
MKE → West Allis, WI 11m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131
Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Roberts, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 33 mi, ~50m drive
West Allis, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 7 mi, ~11m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

100.0%

+ 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

7h 33m

5h 53m on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

17 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roberts, WI → St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) 30m
Boarding 30m
Train ride 353m
Arrival 10m
Milwaukee (MKE) → West Allis, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $58) $58

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

Stations

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

Service

Direct

Frequency

~4/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 4 trips per week
− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable
− Need transportation to/from station
− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 50m

6h 25m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

17 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Roberts, WI → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 30m
Boarding 15m
Bus ride 385m
Arrival 10m
Milwaukee Intermodal Station (MKE6) → West Allis, 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 MKE6 — Milwaukee Intermodal Station 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 5h 26m 3h 33m 7h 33m 7h 50m
Total cost (1 person) $107 $186 $58 $30
Carbon footprint 120 kg CO2 67 kg CO2 17 kg CO2 17 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 20, 2026.

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