Drive or Fly: Wisconsin Rapids, WI to Fitchburg, 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 CWA–MSN. At 125 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 32m

Distance

125.1 mi

Total Cost

$63

CO2

51 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$28

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 15m

12m in the air

Air Distance

100 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

25 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wisconsin Rapids, WI → CWA 42m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 12m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Fitchburg, WI 21m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

Wisconsin Rapids, WI CWA — Central Wisconsin Airport 28 mi, ~42m drive

Fitchburg, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 14 mi, ~21m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between CWA and MSN. Flight estimates above are theoretical.

+ Less physical fatigue

+ Predictable arrival time

− Airport security and check-in overhead

− No scheduled commercial flights found for this route

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

4h 5m

1h 27m on rail

Total Cost

$17

CO2

5 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Wisconsin Rapids, WI → Tomah Amtrak Station 66m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 87m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → Fitchburg, WI 52m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $17) $17

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

Stations

From Tomah Amtrak Station 44 mi, ~66m drive

To Columbus Amtrak Station 35 mi, ~52m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~3/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 3 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	2h 32m	3h 15m	4h 5m
Total cost (1 person)	$63	$124	$17
Carbon footprint	51 kg CO₂	25 kg CO₂	5 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 Apr 21, 2026.

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