Drive or Fly: Paddock Lake, 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 MKE–LSE. At 227 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Drive

Door to Door

3h 36m

Distance

227.4 mi

Total Cost

$86

CO2

92 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$51

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 13m

22m in the air

Air Distance

181 mi

Total Cost

$182

CO2

46 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paddock Lake, WI → MKE 41m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 22m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LSE → North La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $127) $127

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Paddock Lake, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 28 mi, ~41m drive

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

No scheduled flights found

No commercial flights between MKE 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

− May need a rental car at destination

− Luggage fees and restrictions

− Less flexibility for stops along the way

Train

Amtrak

Door to Door

5h 15m

4h 4m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Paddock Lake, WI → Sturtevant Amtrak Station 21m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 244m

Arrival 10m

La Crosse → North La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From Sturtevant Amtrak Station 14 mi, ~21m drive

To La Crosse 1 mi, ~10m 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	3h 36m	3h 13m	5h 15m
Total cost (1 person)	$86	$182	$37
Carbon footprint	92 kg CO₂	46 kg CO₂	11 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 13, 2026.

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