Drive or Fly: Elkhorn, 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 MKE–LSE. At 204 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

3h 54m

Distance

204.3 mi

Total Cost

$85

CO2

83 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$50

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 26m

19m in the air

Air Distance

156 mi

Total Cost

$181

CO2

40 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkhorn, WI → MKE 57m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 19m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

LSE → La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $126) $126

Rental car (1 day)$55

Airports

Elkhorn, WI MKE — General Mitchell International Airport 38 mi, ~57m drive

La Crosse, WI LSE — La Crosse Regional Airport 5 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 38m

3h 59m on rail

Total Cost

$37

CO2

11 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

Elkhorn, WI → Sturtevant Amtrak Station (SVT) 49m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 239m

Arrival 10m

La Crosse (LSE) → La Crosse, WI 10m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $37) $37

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

Stations

From SVT — Sturtevant Amtrak Station 33 mi, ~49m drive

To LSE — La Crosse 2 mi, ~10m drive

Service

Direct

Frequency

~2/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 2 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 54m	3h 26m	5h 38m
Total cost (1 person)	$85	$181	$37
Carbon footprint	83 kg CO₂	40 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 Oct 20, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

204.3 mi 3h 54m

via I 39; I 90, I 90; I 94, I 90

Shortest (+8 min)

200.1 mi 4h 3m

via I 90; I 94, I 90, I 39; I 90

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