Drive or Fly: Star Prairie, WI to Racine, 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 32m

Distance

342.9 mi

Total Cost

$100

CO2

139 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$65

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 59m

35m in the air

Air Distance

291 mi

Total Cost

$187

CO2

74 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Star Prairie, WI → MSP 60m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 35m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MKE → Racine, WI 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $132) $132

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Star Prairie, WI MSP — Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field 40 mi, ~60m drive

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

Flight Data

Service

Connecting only

On-Time

99.3%

Cancellation

0.7%

+ Saves about 2h 33m 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 8m

6h 28m on rail

Total Cost

$60

CO2

20 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Star Prairie, WI → St. Paul-Minneapolis (MSP) 30m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 388m

Arrival 10m

Sturtevant Amtrak Station (SVT) → Racine, WI 30m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $60) $60

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

Stations

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

To SVT — Sturtevant Amtrak Station 0 mi, ~30m 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

8h 15m

6h 50m on road

Total Cost

$30

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Star Prairie, WI → Hudson (WI) (5HU) 30m

Boarding 15m

Bus ride 410m

Arrival 10m

Milwaukee Mitchell Airport (5MK) → Racine, 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 5MK — Milwaukee Mitchell Airport 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 32m	3h 59m	8h 8m	8h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$100	$187	$60	$30
Carbon footprint	139 kg CO₂	74 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂
Flexibility	High	Low
Luggage	Unlimited	Restricted
Reliability	Weather dependent	99% 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.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

342.9 mi 6h 31m

via I 94, I 41; I 94; US 41, CTH T

Alternative (+23 min)

347 mi 6h 55m

via I 94, I 39; I 90, WI 20

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