Trip from Conover, WI to La Crosse, WI

Drive Time

4h 20m

Distance

238.8 mi

384 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$36

one way

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Conover, WI

Tom Fisk

La Crosse, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Spanning 238.8 miles across the Wisconsin landscape, this journey from Conover to La Crosse typically takes about 4 hours and 20 minutes of drive time. Because it is a manageable distance, you can easily complete the trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $32 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwest locations. While the route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, the drive is straightforward enough for those comfortable with regional travel. Whether you are heading south for business or a change of scenery, this trip provides a solid, direct connection across the state.

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 , about 2h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged behind the wheel. You will primarily navigate via US 45, WI 17, and Highway 17, as the route contains zero percent highway share. Since there are no long, monotonous stretches on US 45, you should anticipate a constant need for focus as you transition through various local road segments. This is a hands-on driving experience where the road's personality changes frequently, requiring you to stay alert through every turn. It is a far cry from a mindless interstate commute, offering a more localized perspective of the Wisconsin terrain.

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.

How Hard Is This Drive?

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Conover, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 45	Unavailable	Refreshing
WI 17	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 17	Unavailable	Refreshing
North Stevens Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Davenport Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 47	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 8	Unavailable	Refreshing
US 8	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: US 45 — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 45

7.3 mi · 10 min · US 45

Continue straight

3.0 mi · 6 min

Take the exit right toward WI 17

2.0 mi · 4 min · WI 17

Continue on State Highway 17

18 mi · 24 min · State Highway 17

Continue on North Stevens Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · North Stevens Street

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 19 sec

Continue on North Stevens Street

2.2 mi · 4 min · North Stevens Street

Turn right onto West Davenport Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · West Davenport Street

Turn left onto State Highway 47

0.2 mi · 26 sec · State Highway 47

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US Highway 8

26 ft · 2 sec · US Highway 8

Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 8

2.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 8

Continue on US 8

12 mi · 15 min · US 8

Turn left

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge slight left

46 mi · 53 min

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

13 mi · 13 min · I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

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

0.3 mi · 38 sec · WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids

Keep slight right

200 ft · 5 sec

Turn straight onto State Highway 34

0.2 mi · 17 sec · State Highway 34

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34

125 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 34

Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34

9.7 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34

Take the ramp right

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Merge slight left onto US Highway 10

3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10

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

0.3 mi · 49 sec · WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids

Turn left onto Victory Road

15 mi · 22 min · Victory Road

Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South

0.5 mi · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South

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

187 ft · 3 sec · 2nd Avenue South

Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South

1.3 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South

Continue on Wisconsin River Drive

1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive

Turn right onto Letendre Avenue

1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue

Continue on State Highway 54

2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54

Turn left onto County Highway G

2.0 mi · 3 min · County Highway G

Continue on State Highway 173

9.1 mi · 13 min · State Highway 173

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

410 ft · 7 sec · State Highway 80

Continue on State Highway 173

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 173

Continue on State Highway 173

24 mi · 33 min · State Highway 173

Turn right onto State Highway 21

4.0 mi · 5 min · State Highway 21

Continue on East McCoy Boulevard

0.3 mi · 34 sec · East McCoy Boulevard

Continue on State Highway 21

0.1 mi · 12 sec · State Highway 21

Take the exit straight

0.3 mi · 42 sec

Merge slight left

2.8 mi · 2 min

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

0.7 mi · 51 sec · I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea

Merge slight left

38 mi · 40 min

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

0.3 mi · 42 sec · WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

At the end of the road, turn left

4.9 mi · 8 min

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

Turn right onto Main Street

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

325 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Given the 4 hour and 20 minute duration, plan for at least one substantial stop to break up the drive and stretch your legs. Starting your trip early in the morning is your best bet to navigate the local roads while visibility is at its peak. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge, especially since you are traveling on local routes where service stations may be spaced differently than on major interstates. Because this is a turn-heavy route, ensure your vehicle is prepared for consistent handling rather than high-speed cruising. Flexibility is a major advantage here, so feel free to adjust your pace to match the rhythm of these winding local roads.

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, or about 2h 10m 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 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 119.4 miles or 2h 10m 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 33m

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.

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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 119.4 mi from Conover, WI · 2h 10m into the drive

Mid-route 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.

Pacing Suggestions

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.

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

$36.27 one way

$72.54 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 84 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$39.98	$79.97
premium	$4.80	$45.08	$90.16
diesel	$5.64	$53.05	$106.11

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$36

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$61–$86

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 83.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $25 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	71.6	0	$25.07	$11.46
Efficient EV	59.7	0	$20.90	$9.55
EV Truck/SUV	95.5	1	$33.43	$15.28

Gas CO2

84 kg

EV CO2

28 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

Conover, WI

Afternoon in Conover on Sunday

Local time

1:47 PM

CDT

Current temp

31°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday

Local time

1:47 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

8 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 20m 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 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 $36.27 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.

This is a straightforward 4h 20m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Conover, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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