Trip from Conover, WI to La Crosse, WI

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

238.8 mi

Route Type

Turn-heavy local drive

Long day trip

Trip Overview

The drive from Conover, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 238.8 miles and takes about 4h 20m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 45, WI 17, Highway 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $32.44 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

119.4 miles from Conover, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day.

Drive Character

Expect a 4h 20m drive with frequent turns across 238.8 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 50 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

US 45 is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 45	0 mi	0m
WI 17	0 mi	0m
Highway 17	0 mi	0m
North Stevens Street	0 mi	0m
West Davenport Street	0 mi	0m
Highway 47	0 mi	0m
Highway 8	0 mi	0m
US 8	0 mi	0m

Longest stretch: US 45 — 0 mi, about 0m

Step-by-Step Directions

1

Start on US 45

2

Continue straight

3

Take the exit right toward WI 17

4

Continue on State Highway 17

5

Continue on North Stevens Street

6

Turn slight right

7

Continue on North Stevens Street

8

Turn right onto West Davenport Street

9

Turn left onto State Highway 47

10

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US Highway 8

11

Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 8

12

Continue on US 8

13

Turn left

14

Merge slight left

15

Keep slight left to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

16

Take the exit slight right toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids

17

Keep slight right

18

Turn straight onto State Highway 34

19

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34

20

Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34

21

Take the ramp right

22

Merge slight left onto US Highway 10

23

Take the exit slight right toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids

24

Turn left onto Victory Road

25

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South

26

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 2nd Avenue South

27

Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South

28

Continue on Wisconsin River Drive

29

Turn right onto Letendre Avenue

30

Continue on State Highway 54

31

Turn left onto County Highway G

32

Continue on State Highway 173

33

At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 80

34

Continue on State Highway 173

35

Continue on State Highway 173

36

Turn right onto State Highway 21

37

Continue on East McCoy Boulevard

38

Continue on State Highway 21

39

Take the exit straight

40

Merge slight left

41

Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea

42

Merge slight left

43

Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

44

At the end of the road, turn left

45

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

46

Turn right onto Main Street

47

Turn left onto 16th Street South

48

Turn right onto Johnson Street

49

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South

50

Arrive at your destination

When to Leave

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 119.4 miles from Conover, WI.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Drive Plan

Departure

Before you leave

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

First stop

Around 80 miles

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

Halfway reset

Around 119.4 miles

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

Final approach

Last hour of driving

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 Conover, 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.

Trip Strategy

Day 1

Settle into the route from Conover, WI

This is one driving day of about 238.8 miles and 4h 20m.

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

Best Stop Towns on This Route

These towns line up with the pace of this drive and give you clearer places to stop with a purpose.

Late stop town

Meal stop

Bonduel, WI

119 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.

Travel Advice

Arrival Notes

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.

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.

Stops Along the Way

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 119.4 mi from Conover, WI

Merrill, WI

Fuel and coffee

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

Bonduel, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 119.4 miles from Conover, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Fuel & Cost

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
regular	$3.45	$32.44	$64.87
midgrade	$3.85	$36.20	$72.39
premium	$4.15	$39.02	$78.03
diesel	$3.75	$35.26	$70.51

Based on 25.4 MPG average. Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Conover, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 238.8 miles and takes about 4h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 45, WI 17, Highway 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 119.4 miles from Conover, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $32.44 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.