Drive or Fly: La Crosse, WI to Arena, 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 LSE–MSN. At 98 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 27m

Distance

98.5 mi

Total Cost

$57

CO2

40 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$22

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 4m

10m in the air

Air Distance

80 mi

Total Cost

$123

CO2

20 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Crosse, WI → LSE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 10m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Arena, WI 44m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $123) $123

Airports

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

Arena, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 29 mi, ~44m drive

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between LSE 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

2h 59m

1h 20m on rail

Total Cost

$15

CO2

4 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

La Crosse, WI → La Crosse 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 80m

Arrival 10m

Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station → Arena, WI 49m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $15) $15

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

Stations

From La Crosse 2 mi, ~10m drive

To Wisconsin Dells Amtrak Station 33 mi, ~49m 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 27m	3h 4m	2h 59m
Total cost (1 person)	$57	$123	$15
Carbon footprint	40 kg CO₂	20 kg CO₂	4 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.

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