Origin
Balsam Lake, WI
Afternoon in Balsam Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI
Drive Time
3h 2m
Distance
158.7 mi
255 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
Photo: Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 158.7 miles and takes about 3h 2m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on West Main Street, 140th Street, East 130th Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $24.10 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
79.4 miles from Balsam Lake, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 2m drive with frequent turns across 158.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 47 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 3h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| West Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 140th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East 130th Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Highway H | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 110th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Baker Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| 105th Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| County Highway F | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
West Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Balsam Lake, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Courthouse Avenue
407 ft
·
20 sec
·
Courthouse Avenue
2
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
51 sec
·
West Main Street
3
Continue on 140th Street
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
140th Street
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto East 130th Avenue
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
East 130th Avenue
5
Turn right onto County Highway H
2.8 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway H
6
Keep slight right
367 ft
·
7 sec
7
Continue on 110th Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
110th Street
8
At the end of the road, turn right onto 110th Street
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
110th Street
9
Turn left onto Baker Avenue
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
Baker Avenue
10
Turn right onto 105th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
105th Street
11
Turn left onto County Highway F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway F
12
At the end of the road, turn right onto Keller Avenue South
7.8 mi
·
13 min
·
Keller Avenue South
13
Continue on Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
14
Continue on State Highway 46
3.2 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 46
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 63
144 ft
·
8 sec
·
US Highway 63
16
Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 63
23 mi
·
33 min
·
US Highway 63
17
Turn slight left
6.7 mi
·
9 min
18
Turn left onto County Road DD
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
County Road DD
19
Turn left onto US Highway 10
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 10
20
Turn right onto County Road D
7.1 mi
·
12 min
·
County Road D
21
Turn left onto Great River Road
6.7 mi
·
10 min
·
Great River Road
22
Continue on State Highway 35
11 mi
·
16 min
·
State Highway 35
23
Continue on 3rd Street
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
3rd Street
24
Continue on State Road 35
2.9 mi
·
4 min
·
State Road 35
25
Continue on State Road 25-35
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
State Road 25-35
26
Continue on North Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Main Street
27
Continue on State Road 25
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Road 25
28
Continue on State Highway 25
0.4 mi
·
37 sec
·
State Highway 25
29
Continue on Wabasha-Nelson Bridge
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
Wabasha-Nelson Bridge
30
Continue straight
0.4 mi
·
41 sec
31
At the end of the road, turn left onto 4th Grant Boulevard West
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
4th Grant Boulevard West
32
Turn right onto Pembroke Avenue
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Pembroke Avenue
33
Continue straight
30 mi
·
36 min
34
Continue straight
3.7 mi
·
5 min
35
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 14;US 61
161 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 14;US 61
36
Exit the rotary onto US 14;US 61
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 14;US 61
37
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
38
Continue straight
8.5 mi
·
9 min
39
Keep slight right
2.9 mi
·
4 min
40
Turn left onto Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
41
Continue straight
1.3 mi
·
2 min
42
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
43
Merge slight left onto 3rd Street South
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street South
44
Continue on South Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Avenue
45
Turn left onto Adams Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Adams Street
46
Turn left onto West Avenue South
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Avenue South
47
Arrive at your destination
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 79.4 miles from Balsam Lake, WI, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
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 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 79.4 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 29m
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 Balsam Lake, 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 Balsam Lake, WI
This is one driving day of about 158.7 miles and 3h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Balsam Lake, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 79.4 mi from Balsam Lake, WI · 1h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
79 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 79.4 miles from Balsam Lake, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$24.10 one way
$48.21 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
56 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $26.57 | $53.15 |
| premium | $4.80 | $29.96 | $59.92 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $35.26 | $70.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 55.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
| Efficient EV | 39.7 | 0 | $13.89 | $6.35 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 63.5 | 0 | $22.22 | $10.16 |
Gas CO2
56 kg
EV CO2
19 kg (66% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
12:31 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
3 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 2m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 158.7 miles and takes about 3h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are West Main Street, 140th Street, East 130th Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 79.4 miles from Balsam Lake, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $24.10 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
The drive from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 3h 2m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Balsam Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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