That's why pilots are taught the 1 in 60 rule, which states that after 60 miles, a one-degree error in heading will result in straying off course by one mile. Which means the lake you planned to fly over could turn out to be a mountain.
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The 1 in 60 rule states that if you're off course by 1NM after 60 miles flown, you have a 1-degree tracking error. Time to correct that heading! Another tip: If you're 60 miles away from a VOR, and you're off course by one degree, you're off course by one mile.
But pilots don't just take off into the wind; they also land in it. This is for the very same reason. It allows pilots to land in a shorter distance as opposed to landing with the wind. To recap, pilots take off into the wind because it reduces the required ground speed.
In aviation, the rule of three or 3:1 rule of descent is a rule of thumb that 3 nautical miles (5.6 km) of travel should be allowed for every 1,000 feet (300 m) of descent. For example, a descent from flight level 350 would require approximately 35x3=105 nautical miles.