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Trip from Abrams, WI to La Crosse, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 45m

Distance

222.6 mi

358 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$35

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min
4 AM
4h 32m ★
6 AM
4h 46m
8 AM
5h 13m
10 AM
4h 55m
12 PM
4h 53m
3 PM
4h 57m
5 PM
5h 12m
8 PM
4h 38m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Abrams, WI, WI

Abrams, WI

Tom Fisk

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Abrams, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 222.6 miles and takes about 4h 45m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, US 41, I 41 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.7 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.80 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

111.3 miles from Abrams, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 21m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 62.7 mi 1h 7m
US 41 34.5 mi 36m
I 41 34.2 mi 37m
State Highway 82 28.1 mi 41m
State Highway 23 25.2 mi 36m
State Highway 44 14.8 mi 21m
WI 16 4.9 mi 8m
State Highway 23 & 49 3.7 mi 5m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 62.7 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Abrams, WI and La Crosse, WI.

1

Start on Oak Orchard Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Oak Orchard Road
2

Turn right onto CTH EE

0.9 mi · 2 min · County Highway EE
3

Turn left onto CTH D

0.1 mi · 20 sec · County Highway D
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 39 sec
Toward US 41 South: Appleton, Green Bay
5

Merge onto US 41; US 141

34 mi · 36 min · US 41; US 141
Toward Appleton, Green Bay
6

Continue on I 41; US 41

34 mi · 37 min · I 41; US 41
Use the straight lane.
7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Exit 116 Toward WI 44, WI 91 Use the slight right lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork

183 ft · 4 sec
9

Turn right onto WI 44; WI 91

0.8 mi · 1 min · Ripon Rd
10

Continue on WI 44

15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 44
11

Continue on East Oshkosh Street

1.5 mi · 4 min · East Oshkosh Street
12

Turn right onto WI 23; WI 49

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Fond du Lac Street
13

Continue on WI 23; WI 49

3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 23 & 49
14

Turn straight onto WI 23; CTH A

9.2 mi · 12 min · State Highway 23
Use the straight lane.
15

Continue on WI 23; WI 73

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Fulton Street
16

Turn left onto WI 23; WI 73; CTH D; CTH J

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street
17

Turn left

150 ft · 2 sec
18

Continue on WI 23

0.5 mi · 42 sec · South 2nd Street
19

Continue on State Highway 23

9.9 mi · 14 min · State Highway 23
20

Continue on WI 23; CTH C

0.6 mi · 57 sec · East Montello Street
21

Continue on WI 23; CTH C

0.1 mi · 10 sec · West Montello Street
22

Turn slight right onto WI 23; CTH C

1.8 mi · 2 min · Underwood Avenue
23

Continue on WI 23

6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23
24

Continue on WI 82

3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 82
25

Continue on WI 82

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Ormsby Street
26

Continue on WI 82

25 mi · 36 min · State Highway 82
27

Keep slight right at fork

278 ft · 5 sec
28

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec
29

Merge onto I 90; I 94

24 mi · 25 min · I 90; I 94
30

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90
Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
31

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
32

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16
33

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
34

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
35

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
36

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
37

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
38

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 111.3 miles from Abrams, WI, or about 2h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.7 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 49 miles or 55m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 111.3 miles or 2h 21m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Abrams, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Abrams, WI

This is one driving day of about 222.6 miles and 4h 45m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Abrams, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 62.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Waupun, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waupun, WI

111 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Neenah, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Pardeeville, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 111.3 miles from Abrams, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.7 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 17

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.5 and 215.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
1.5 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the ramp toward US 41 South: Appleton, Green Bay

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward US 41 South: Appleton, Green Bay
5
1.8 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 41; US 141

Merge onto US 41; US 141 toward Appleton, Green Bay

Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward Appleton, Green Bay
8
70.4 mi into trip | ~1h 18m in

Take the exit toward WI 44, WI 91

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 116 Toward WI 44, WI 91
7
175.9 mi into trip | ~3h 47m in | I 90

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
6
215.1 mi into trip | ~4h 29m in

Take the exit toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$34.80 one way

$69.60 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 78 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $38.21 $76.42
premium $4.89 $42.84 $85.67
diesel $5.61 $49.15 $98.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$35

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$60–$85

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.8 0 $23.37 $10.68
Efficient EV 55.7 0 $19.48 $8.90
EV Truck/SUV 89 1 $31.16 $14.25

Gas CO2

78 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (67% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Abrams, WI

Afternoon in Abrams on Saturday

Local time

1:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Saturday

Local time

1:12 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

23 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

4h 45m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...

14 mi from route ~36 min detour Free near mile 122.8
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

222.6 mi in 4h 45m, mostly highway — 62.7 mi of that is on I 90.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.7 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 41. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 222.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (US 41; US 141): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 45m. Total distance: 222.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 45m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 62.7 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at La Crosse, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.8 miles (US 41; US 141): Merge point - match speed before joining. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.5 hours — manageable with a long break at La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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