Drive or Fly: North La Crosse, WI to Markesan, 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 140 miles, driving is the only practical option.

Passengers:

Vehicle:

Find Your Vehicle (EPA fuel economy data)

Drive

Door to Door

2h 53m

Distance

140.3 mi

Total Cost

$66

CO2

57 kg

Cost Breakdown

Diesel$31

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 28m

14m in the air

Air Distance

113 mi

Total Cost

$125

CO2

29 kg

Door-to-Door Timeline

North La Crosse, WI → LSE 10m

Check-in & Security 90m

Flight 14m

Arrival & Baggage 30m

MSN → Markesan, WI 64m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $125) $125

Airports

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

Markesan, WI MSN — Dane County Regional Truax Field 43 mi, ~64m 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 34m

2h 6m on rail

Total Cost

$23

CO2

7 kg

Route

Borealis

Door-to-Door Timeline

North La Crosse, WI → La Crosse 10m

Boarding 30m

Train ride 126m

Arrival 10m

Columbus Amtrak Station → Markesan, WI 38m

Cost Breakdown

Ticket (1 pax @ $23) $23

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

Stations

From La Crosse 1 mi, ~10m drive

To Columbus Amtrak Station 25 mi, ~38m 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 53m	3h 28m	3h 34m
Total cost (1 person)	$66	$125	$23
Carbon footprint	57 kg CO₂	29 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 19, 2026.

Route Options

2 different routes between these cities.

Fastest

140.3 mi 2h 52m

via I 90, WI 33, US 53

Shortest (+2 min)

132.1 mi 2h 55m

via I 90, WI 82, US 53

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