Drive or Fly: Saint Croix Falls, WI to Wauwatosa, 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 23m

Distance

331.2 mi

Total Cost

$98

CO2

134 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 57m

34m in the air

Air Distance

281 mi

Total Cost

$186

CO2

72 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Croix Falls, WI → MSP 69m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 34m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Wauwatosa, WI 14m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $131) $131

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Saint Croix Falls, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 46 mi, ~69m drive

Wauwatosa, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

94.0%

Cancellation

6.0%

+ Saves about 2h 26m 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

7h 40m

6h on rail

Total Cost

$58

CO2

19 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Croix Falls, WI → St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 360m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee (MKE) → Wauwatosa, 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

~3/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 3 trips per week

− Amtrak delays can be unpredictable

− Need transportation to/from station

− Less flexibility than driving

Bus

FlixBus

Door to Door

7h 49m

6h 24m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

19 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Saint Croix Falls, WI → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 384m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee Intermodal Station (MKE6) → Wauwatosa, 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

~8/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 8 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 23m	3h 57m	7h 40m	7h 49m
Total cost (1 person)	$98	$186	$58	$30
Carbon footprint	134 kg CO₂	72 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂	19 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	94% 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 Jul 19, 2026.

Decided to drive? See the full trip plan from Saint Croix Falls, WI to Wauwatosa, WI with stops, fuel costs, and turn-by-turn directions.