This 102.5-mile drive from Baraboo to La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a straightforward 2-hour journey perfect for a single day trip. Primarily utilizing I-90, US-12, and WI-16, the route is about 95% highway, making it an efficient way to travel between these Midwest locales. With an estimated fuel cost of $16, it's an economical option for a quick getaway or a travel day. You'll find this drive offers a consistent pace without the need for an overnight stop, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
51.3 miles from Baraboo, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 59m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 2m. Total distance: 102.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 2m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused experience on this 102.5-mile trip, with 95% of the route taking place on major roads. The bulk of your journey will be on I-90, including an uninterrupted stretch of 86.1 miles. This means you'll encounter consistent speeds and straightforward navigation for most of the drive. While predominantly highway, the inclusion of US-12 and WI-16 offers slight variations in the road's character as you transition between them, but the overall feel remains one of efficient travel.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 18 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 86.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 12. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 12 BUS; WI 33 / 8th Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 12 BUS; WI 33 / 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0.3 mi into trip|~0m in|US 12 BUS; WI 33 / 8th Avenue
At end of road, turn left onto US 12 BUS; WI 33 / 8th Avenue
Navigation decision point
7
1.8 mi into trip|~4m in
Enter roundabout toward US-12 WEST, WI-33 WEST
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US-12 WEST, WI-33 WEST
5
8.6 mi into trip|~13m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Claire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Cla...
7
55.9 mi into trip|~1h 4m 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
95 mi into trip|~1h 46m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Baraboo, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Onalaska.
Eau Claire
8.6 mi in|~13m
Onalaska
95 mi in|~1h 46m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
86.1 mi
1h 32m
US 12
6.4 mi
7m
WI 16
4.9 mi
8m
8th Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
16th Street South
0.8 mi
2m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
1m
Linn Street
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Baraboo, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on US 12 BUS; WI 113
0.3 mi·34 sec·South Broadway Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 12 BUS; WI 33
0.9 mi·2 min·8th Avenue
3
Continue on US 12 BUS; WI 33
0.4 mi·1 min·Linn Street
4
Continue on WI 33; WI 136
0.3 mi·33 sec·State Highway 136
5
Enter roundabout
35 ft·0 sec
Toward US-12 WEST, WI-33 WEST
6
Continue
0.4 mi·52 sec
Toward US-12 WEST, WI-33 WEST
7
Merge onto US 12; WI 33
6.4 mi·7 min·US 12; WI 33
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Claire
9
Merge onto I 90; I 94
47 mi·50 min·I 90; I 94
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi·41 min·I 90
Exit 45Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
12
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
13
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
14
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
15
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
16
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
18
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour duration and 102.5-mile distance, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart Baraboo at your leisure, perhaps after a morning coffee, and still arrive in La Crosse with plenty of daylight. The longest stretch is 86.1 miles on I-90, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you embark, as services might be less frequent on this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $16, it's an affordable drive, but always keep an eye on your gauge, especially during that long stretch on the interstate.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 51.3 miles from Baraboo, WI, or about 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 23 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 51.3 miles or 59m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 34m
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 Baraboo, 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 Baraboo, WI
This is one driving day of about 102.5 miles and 2h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Baraboo, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 51.3 mi from Baraboo, WI
· 59m into the drive
The midpoint is around 51.3 miles from Baraboo, 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 86.1 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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 21.2
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.02 one way
$32.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg36 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$17.59
$35.19
premium
$4.89
$19.73
$39.45
diesel
$5.61
$22.63
$45.26
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 35.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
Efficient EV
25.6
0
$8.97
$4.10
EV Truck/SUV
41
0
$14.35
$6.56
Gas CO2
36 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Baraboo, WI
Morning
in Baraboo on Friday
Local time
10:26 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
10:26 AM
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
22 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
2h 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 Baraboo, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 102.5 miles and takes about 2h 2m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, US 12, WI 16. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 51.3 miles from Baraboo, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $16.02 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 102.5 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 12 BUS; WI 33 / 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.8 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 8.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Baraboo, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Onalaska.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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.
