Origin
Evansville, WI
Night in Evansville on Wednesday
Local time
9:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Evansville, WI to La Crosse, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
169.1 mi
272 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 5m
★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 25m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Evansville, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Evansville, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 169.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, I 39, US Highway 14 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 $26.44 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
84.5 miles from Evansville, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 3h 17m highway drive covering 169.1 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 39. 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 21 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 I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in near US 14.
Route Complexity
9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 169.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles (US 14): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
19.5 mi into trip
|
~25m in
|
US 14
Take the exit onto US 14 toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 132A-B
Toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
7
19.6 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight right at fork toward US 12 East, US 18 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 132A
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
8
25.7 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 267B
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wiscon...
6
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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
122.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m 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
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 Evansville, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin Dells along the way.
Wisconsin Dells
25.7 mi in
|
~34m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 102.6 mi | 1h 49m |
| I 39 | 32.4 mi | 34m |
| US Highway 14 | 18.3 mi | 23m |
| West Beltline Highway | 5.8 mi | 7m |
| WI 16 | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| US 14 | 0.5 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 102.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Evansville, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on WI 59; WI 213
0.3 mi
·
57 sec
·
South Madison Street
2
Turn left onto US 14; WI 59
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Union Street
3
Continue on US 14; WI 59
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 14; WI 59
4
Continue on US 14; WI 59
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 14
5
Enter roundabout onto US 14
119 ft
·
10 sec
·
US Highway 14
6
Continue on US 14
13 mi
·
16 min
·
US Highway 14
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 14
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
US 14
Exit 132A-B
Toward US 12, US 14, US 18, US 151 South
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
Exit 132A
Toward US 12 East, US 18 East
9
Merge onto US 12; US 18
5.8 mi
·
7 min
·
West Beltline Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 267B
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
11
Merge onto I 39; I 90
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 39; I 90
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 90
Exit 45
Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
14
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
15
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
WI 16
16
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
17
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
18
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
19
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
20
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
21
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 84.5 miles from Evansville, WI, or about 1h 38m 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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.5 miles or 1h 38m 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 36m
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 Evansville, 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 Evansville, WI
This is one driving day of about 169.1 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Evansville, 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 84.5 mi from Evansville, WI · 1h 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 84.5 miles from Evansville, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.44 one way
$52.87 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
59 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.03 | $58.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.54 | $65.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.34 | $74.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.76 | $8.12 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.67 | $10.82 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Night in La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
9:59 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
18 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
3h 17m 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 Evansville, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 169.1 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 39, US Highway 14. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 84.5 miles from Evansville, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.44 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 169.1 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles (US 14): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Evansville, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Wisconsin Dells along the way.
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