Direct Flights from Chicago to La Crosse
La Crosse · Wisconsin
Nonstop service from ORD to LSE on American. Here's the schedule at a glance — plus what to do once you land.
How rare is this nonstop?
This is a rare nonstop: only 3 cities fly direct to La Crosse, and Chicago is one of them. From anywhere else you'd be connecting.
How long to go to La Crosse for, from Chicago
55m in the air, 214 miles: short enough that a single night in La Crosse is worth it, and a day trip is not absurd.
About La Crosse
La Crosse is a city in the Coulee Region of Southwest Wisconsin on the Mississippi River. It is the county seat of La Crosse County. It's nestled between the river and picturesque bluffs that rise behind it. With a city population of around 50,000 and the metropolitan area just under 100,000, La Crosse offers visitors plenty of activities to do and sights to see, without the overwhelming hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
Summary from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA).
Top things to do in La Crosse
- The Cathedral of St. Joseph the Workman is the mother church of the Diocese of La Crosse. The cathedral, designed by architect Edward J. Schulte, was completed in 1962.
- The Cathedral of the Sacred Heart is the mother church of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Winona-Rochester. The cathedral is located in Winona, Minnesota, United States, on Minnesota State Highway 43 near downtown.
- Great River Bluffs State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, on the Mississippi River southeast of Winona. Originally known as O. L.
- Beaver Creek Valley State Park is a state park of Minnesota, United States, featuring a steep, narrow valley carved by East Beaver Creek.
- Perrot State Park is a state park in Wisconsin's Driftless Area at the confluence of the Trempealeau and Mississippi rivers. The 1,270-acre (514 ha) park features views of steep limestone bluffs and the river valleys.
- Merrick State Park is a 322-acre (130 ha) Wisconsin state park on the Mississippi River north of Fountain City.
- The Minnesota Marine Art Museum (MMAM) is an art museum in Winona, Minnesota, United States, specializing in great art inspired by water.
- Wildcat Mountain State Park is a state park of Wisconsin, United States, on the Kickapoo River in the Driftless Area.
- St. Rose of Viterbo Convent is the motherhouse of the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration, an American religious congregation, which is located in La Crosse, Wisconsin.
- Pettibone Park is a public park on Barron Island in La Crosse, Wisconsin. The park is located across the Mississippi River from the city's downtown riverfront.
- Riverside Park is a public park located on the riverfront of downtown La Crosse, Wisconsin. It hosts events such as Riverfest, Fourth of July fireworks, Oktoberfest, Moon Tunes, and the Rotary Lights.
- Iron Post is a historic boundary marker located in New Albin, Iowa, United States.
Attraction descriptions from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA); place data from Wikidata (CC0).
La Crosse weather, compared with Chicago
Within 2° of Chicago on the annual average, so pack much as you would at home — but the two cities do not track each other month to month:
- January
- La Crosse 27°F · Chicago 31°F · 5° colder
- April
- La Crosse 59°F · Chicago 59°F · much the same
- July
- La Crosse 85°F · Chicago 84°F · much the same
- October
- La Crosse 61°F · Chicago 62°F · 2° colder
January bottoms out near 27°F — a real coat, not a layer.
Average daily highs, 1991–2020 station normals from Meteostat (CC BY 4.0), measured at each city's airport.
Planning a trip to La Crosse
- Best time to visit
- The best time to visit La Crosse is May–June and September–October, when daytime highs are a comfortable 61–81°F.
- How long to stay
- La Crosse rewards a longer visit — a full week lets you explore its many sights, from Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Winona, Minnesota), and Great River Bluffs State Park and beyond.
Frequently asked questions
- Is there a direct flight from Chicago to La Crosse?
- Yes — you can fly nonstop from Chicago (ORD) to La Crosse (LSE) on American.
- Which airlines fly nonstop from Chicago to La Crosse?
- American flies nonstop between Chicago (ORD) and La Crosse (LSE).
- How many nonstop flights are there from Chicago to La Crosse?
- There are about 3 nonstop departures per day (roughly 21 per week) from Chicago to La Crosse.
- How far is La Crosse from Chicago?
- La Crosse is about 214 miles from Chicago by air.
- What is there to do in La Crosse?
- Popular things to do include Cathedral of Saint Joseph the Workman, Cathedral of the Sacred Heart (Winona, Minnesota), Great River Bluffs State Park, Beaver Creek Valley State Park, and more.
More nonstop destinations from Chicago near La Crosse
Airports near Chicago
The closest other departure airports to Chicago — each opens up more nonstop destinations.