Trip from Baileys Harbor, WI to La Crosse, WI

Drive Time

5h 59m

Distance

275.5 mi

443 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

18 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 46m ★

6 AM

5h 59m

8 AM

6h 25m

10 AM

6h 8m

12 PM

6h 6m

3 PM

6h 9m

5 PM

6h 24m

8 PM

5h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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La Crosse, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Baileys Harbor, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 275.5 miles and takes about 5h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, I 41, State Highway 57 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.7 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.85 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

137.8 miles from Baileys Harbor, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 53m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 59m highway drive covering 275.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 41. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.7 miles on I 90.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 45 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 62.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 41. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CTH F / County Road F.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 23 significant decision points across 275.5 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: near the start (CTH F / County Road F): Navigation decision point; at 67.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 123.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 23 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0 mi into trip | ~0m in | CTH F / County Road F

Turn right onto CTH F / County Road F

Navigation decision point

67.9 mi into trip | ~1h 31m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 41 South: Appleton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

Exit 192 B Toward I 41 South: Appleton

123.4 mi into trip | ~2h 32m 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

228.9 mi into trip | ~5h 1m 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

268 mi into trip | ~5h 42m 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

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	62.7 mi	1h 7m
I 41	54.4 mi	58m
State Highway 57	51.6 mi	1h 6m
State Highway 82	28.1 mi	41m
State Highway 23	25.2 mi	36m
State Highway 44	14.8 mi	21m
State Highway 42/57	10.8 mi	17m
WI 16	4.9 mi	8m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 62.7 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on School Lane

261 ft · 22 sec · School Lane

Turn right onto CTH F

397 ft · 12 sec · County Road F

Turn right onto WI 57

18 mi · 28 min · State Highway 57

Turn left onto WI 42; WI 57

1.4 mi · 2 min · State Highway 42/57

Enter roundabout onto WI 42; WI 57

129 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 42/57

Continue on WI 42; WI 57

1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 42/57

Enter roundabout onto WI 42; WI 57

131 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 42/57

Continue on WI 42; WI 57

8.2 mi · 12 min · State Highway 42/57

Use the straight lane.

Continue on WI 57

33 mi · 38 min · State Highway 57

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Toward I 43 North: Interstate 41

Merge onto I 43

4.7 mi · 5 min · I 43

Keep slight right at fork

1.2 mi · 2 min

Exit 192 B Toward I 41 South: Appleton

Merge onto I 41; US 41

54 mi · 58 min · I 41; US 41

Use the straight lane.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 116 Toward WI 44, WI 91 Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight right at fork

183 ft · 4 sec

Turn right onto WI 44; WI 91

0.8 mi · 1 min · Ripon Rd

Continue on WI 44

15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 44

Continue on East Oshkosh Street

1.5 mi · 4 min · East Oshkosh Street

Turn right onto WI 23; WI 49

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Fond du Lac Street

Continue on WI 23; WI 49

3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 23 & 49

Turn straight onto WI 23; CTH A

9.2 mi · 12 min · State Highway 23

Use the straight lane.

Continue on WI 23; WI 73

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Fulton Street

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

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn left

150 ft · 2 sec

Continue on WI 23

0.5 mi · 42 sec · South 2nd Street

Continue on State Highway 23

9.9 mi · 14 min · State Highway 23

Continue on WI 23; CTH C

0.6 mi · 57 sec · East Montello Street

Continue on WI 23; CTH C

0.1 mi · 10 sec · West Montello Street

Turn slight right onto WI 23; CTH C

1.8 mi · 2 min · Underwood Avenue

Continue on WI 23

6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23

Continue on WI 82

3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 82

Continue on WI 82

1.1 mi · 1 min · East Ormsby Street

Continue on WI 82

25 mi · 36 min · State Highway 82

Keep slight right at fork

278 ft · 5 sec

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge onto I 90; I 94

24 mi · 25 min · I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South

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 137.8 miles from Baileys Harbor, WI, or about 2h 53m 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 80 miles or 1h 45m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 137.8 miles or 2h 53m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 57m

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 Baileys Harbor, 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 Baileys Harbor, WI

This is one driving day of about 275.5 miles and 5h 59m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Baileys Harbor, 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.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 137.8 mi from Baileys Harbor, WI · 2h 53m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

138 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 137.8 miles from Baileys Harbor, 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.

Arriving in La Crosse, WI

The final approach into La Crosse, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around La Crosse, WI.

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

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

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 180.5

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$41.85 one way

$83.69 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 96 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$46.13	$92.26
premium	$4.80	$52.01	$104.02
diesel	$5.64	$61.21	$122.41

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

18 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

AmericInn by Wyndham Sturgeon Bay - Tesla Supercharger

Sturgeon Bay, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Howard, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer - Tesla Supercharger

Appleton, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Meijer #298 (Howard, WI)

Howard, WI

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Bergstrom Neenah Ford

Neenah, WI

FORD_CHARGE

6 DCFC

Festival Foods - Tesla Supercharger

Oshkosh, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Dorsch Ford

Green Bay, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Bergstrom Ford of Green Bay

Green Bay, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 6 FORD_CHARGE: 5 Tesla: 4 EV Connect: 2 Electrify America: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	82.6	1	$28.93	$13.22
Efficient EV	68.9	0	$24.11	$11.02
EV Truck/SUV	110.2	1	$38.57	$17.63

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Baileys Harbor, WI

Afternoon in Baileys Harbor on Monday

Local time

1:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Monday

Local time

1:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

39°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 59m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Baileys Harbor, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 275.5 miles and takes about 5h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, I 41, State Highway 57. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 137.8 miles from Baileys Harbor, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $41.85 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

The route from Baileys Harbor, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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Return Trip

La Crosse, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

275.2 mi 5h 59m

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Trip from Baileys Harbor, WI to La Crosse, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in La Crosse, WI

National Parks Near This Route

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Baileys Harbor, WI

La Crosse, WI

Same local time

Very similar conditions

5h 59m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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