Drive or Fly: Kimberly, WI to North 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 176 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 50m

Distance

176.3 mi

Total Cost

$74

CO2

71 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$39

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

2h 42m

18m in the air

Air Distance

147 mi

Total Cost

$126

CO2

38 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kimberly, WI → ATW 14m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 18m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LSE → North La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Airports

Kimberly, WI ATW — Appleton International Airport 9 mi, ~14m drive

North La Crosse, WI LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 2 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

4h 48m

2h 9m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Empire Builder

Door-to-Door Timeline

Kimberly, WI → Columbus Amtrak Station 109m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 129m

Arrival 10m

La Crosse → North 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 73 mi, ~109m drive

To La Crosse 1 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 50m	2h 42m	4h 48m
Total cost (1 person)	$74	$126	$23
Carbon footprint	71 kg CO₂	38 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 16, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

176.3 mi 3h 49m

via I 90, WI 82, I 90; I 94

Shortest (+3 min)

172.2 mi 3h 53m

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

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