Drive or Fly: North La Crosse, WI to Cross Plains, 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 129 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

2h 33m

Distance

129.3 mi

Total Cost

$64

CO2

52 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$29

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 45m

11m in the air

Air Distance

95 mi

Total Cost

$124

CO2

24 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North La Crosse, WI → LSE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 11m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Cross Plains, WI 24m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $124) $124

Airports

North La Crosse, WI LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 2 mi, ~10m drive

Cross Plains, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 16 mi, ~24m 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

3h 15m

1h 38m on rail

Total Cost

$18

CO2

5 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

North La Crosse, WI → La Crosse 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 98m

Arrival 10m

Portage → Cross Plains, WI 47m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $18) $18

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

Stations

From La Crosse 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Portage 31 mi, ~47m 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 33m	2h 45m	3h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$64	$124	$18
Carbon footprint	52 kg CO₂	24 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 12, 2026.

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