Drive or Fly: Ashford, WI to La Crosse, 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 ATW–LSE. At 172 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 40m

Distance

172.7 mi

Total Cost

$73

CO2

70 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$38

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 38m

17m in the air

Air Distance

144 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

37 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ashford, WI → ATW 71m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 17m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LSE → La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Ashford, WI ATW — Appleton International Airport 47 mi, ~71m drive

La Crosse, WI LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 5 mi, ~10m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between ATW and LSE. 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

3h 54m

2h 9m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Ashford, WI → Columbus Amtrak Station 55m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 129m

Arrival 10m

La Crosse → La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From Columbus Amtrak Station 36 mi, ~55m drive

To La Crosse 2 mi, ~10m 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

At a Glance

	Drive	Fly	Train
Door-to-door time	3h 40m	3h 38m	3h 54m
Total cost (1 person)	$73	$126	$23
Carbon footprint	70 kg CO₂	37 kg CO₂	7 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 18, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

172.7 mi 3h 39m

via I 90; I 94, I 90, WI 33; CTH A

Alternative (+35 min)

187.6 mi 4h 15m

via WI 21, I 90, I 41; US 41

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