Origin
Dakota, WI
Evening in Dakota on Friday
Local time
8:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dakota, WI to La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 33m
Distance
110.3 mi
177 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 23m
★
6 AM
2h 34m
8 AM
2h 54m
10 AM
2h 41m
12 PM
2h 39m
3 PM
2h 42m
5 PM
2h 53m
8 PM
2h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dakota, WI
fish socks
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Dakota, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 110.3 miles and takes about 2h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, East Follett Drive, State Highway 21 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.1 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.24 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
55.1 miles from Dakota, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 33m. Total distance: 110.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 33m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
The drive from Dakota, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 110.3 miles and takes about 2h 33m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 22 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 38.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near CTH JJ / County Road JJ.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 110.3 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 0.2 miles (CTH JJ / County Road JJ): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (CTH B / County Highway B): Navigation decision point; at 63.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0.2 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
CTH JJ / County Road JJ
Turn right onto CTH JJ / County Road JJ
Navigation decision point
4
4.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CTH B / County Highway B
Turn right onto CTH B / County Highway B
Navigation decision point
6
63.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 35m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 147
Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
6
102.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 17m 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
5
110.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 33m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Dakota, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Albert Lea and Onalaska.
Albert Lea
63.9 mi in
|
~1h 35m
Onalaska
102.8 mi in
|
~2h 17m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 38.1 mi | 40m |
| East Follett Drive | 28.9 mi | 40m |
| State Highway 21 | 14.8 mi | 20m |
| East 3rd Street | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| WI 16 | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| County Road JJ | 4.5 mi | 10m |
| I 94 | 2.8 mi | 2m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 38.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dakota, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on CTH Y
0.2 mi
·
34 sec
·
County Highway Y
2
Turn right onto CTH JJ
4.5 mi
·
10 min
·
County Road JJ
3
Turn right onto CTH B
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway B
4
Turn left onto WI 21
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 21
5
Continue on WI 21
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Wautoma Road
6
Continue on WI 21
29 mi
·
40 min
·
East Follett Drive
7
Continue on WI 21
11 mi
·
15 min
·
East 3rd Street
8
Continue on WI 21; CTH H
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 21
9
Continue on WI 21
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
12
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 94
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 147
Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
14
Merge onto I 90
38 mi
·
40 min
·
I 90
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
16
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
WI 16
17
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
18
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
19
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
20
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
22
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 55.1 miles from Dakota, WI, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.1 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 24 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.1 miles or 1h 23m 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 4m
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 Dakota, 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 Dakota, WI
This is one driving day of about 110.3 miles and 2h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Dakota, 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 38.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 55.1 mi from Dakota, WI · 1h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.1 miles from Dakota, 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
$17.24 one way
$34.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.93 | $37.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.23 | $42.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.35 | $48.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.58 | $5.29 |
| Efficient EV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.65 | $4.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.44 | $7.06 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Evening in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
8:20 PM
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
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
2h 33m 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 Dakota, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 110.3 miles and takes about 2h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, East Follett Drive, State Highway 21. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.1 miles from Dakota, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.24 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.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 110.3 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 0.2 miles (CTH JJ / County Road JJ): Navigation decision point; at 4.7 miles (CTH B / County Highway B): Navigation decision point; at 63.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Dakota, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Albert Lea and Onalaska.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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