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Trip from Elm Grove, WI to La Crosse, WI

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 48m

Distance

202.3 mi

325 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

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station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 35m ★
6 AM
3h 48m
8 AM
4h 14m
10 AM
3h 57m
12 PM
3h 54m
3 PM
3h 58m
5 PM
4h 12m
8 PM
3h 40m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Elm Grove, WI, WI

Elm Grove, WI

Tom Fisk

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Elm Grove, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 202.3 miles and takes about 3h 48m 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-West Freeway, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.6 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.63 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

101.1 miles from Elm Grove, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 51m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 3h 48m highway drive covering 202.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and East-West Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 102.6 miles on I 90.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 20 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 102.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and East-West Freeway. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.5 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 202.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 9.5 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.1 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 14 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

6
9.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | I 94 / East-West Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
63 mi into trip | ~1h 10m in | I 94

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 240 Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
6
92.1 mi into trip | ~1h 42m in | I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
155.6 mi into trip | ~2h 50m 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
194.7 mi into trip | ~3h 31m 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.

On the drive from Elm Grove, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.

Eau Claire

63 mi in | ~1h 10m | via I 94

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 102.6 mi 1h 49m
East-West Freeway 60.2 mi 1h 4m
I 94 29.1 mi 31m
WI 16 4.9 mi 8m
West Bluemound Road 0.8 mi 1m
16th Street South 0.8 mi 2m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
North Moorland Road 0.6 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 102.6 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Watertown Plank Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Watertown Plank Road
2

Turn left onto Sunny Slope Road

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Sunny Slope Road
3

Turn slight right

241 ft · 9 sec
4

Turn straight onto US 18

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Bluemound Road
5

Turn slight left

0.2 mi · 33 sec
6

Turn left onto CTH O

0.6 mi · 1 min · North Moorland Road
7

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min
Toward I 94 West Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 94

6.7 mi · 7 min · East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

29 mi · 31 min · I 94
Exit 240 Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90
Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
13

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
14

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16
15

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
16

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
17

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
18

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
19

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
20

Arrive at destination

WI 35

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 101.1 miles from Elm Grove, WI, or about 1h 51m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 101.1 miles or 1h 51m 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 1m

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 Elm Grove, 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 Elm Grove, WI

This is one driving day of about 202.3 miles and 3h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Elm Grove, 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 102.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 101.1 mi from Elm Grove, WI · 1h 51m into the drive

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

101 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

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

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101.1 miles from Elm Grove, 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 102.6 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.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

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

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 118.6
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.63 one way

$63.25 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $34.73 $69.45
premium $4.89 $38.93 $77.86
diesel $5.61 $44.67 $89.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.7 0 $21.24 $9.71
Efficient EV 50.6 0 $17.70 $8.09
EV Truck/SUV 80.9 1 $28.32 $12.95

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Elm Grove, WI

Night in Elm Grove on Tuesday

Local time

9:45 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Night in La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

9:45 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 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 48m 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 Elm Grove, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 202.3 miles and takes about 3h 48m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, East-West Freeway, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.1 miles from Elm Grove, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.63 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.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 202.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 9.5 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 63 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 92.1 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Elm Grove, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.

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