Skip to main content

Trip from Gillett, 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

3h 50m

Distance

217 mi

349 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$34

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 37m ★
6 AM
3h 50m
8 AM
4h 16m
10 AM
3h 59m
12 PM
3h 56m
3 PM
4h 0m
5 PM
4h 14m
8 PM
3h 42m

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

Downtown Gillett, WI, WI

Gillett, WI

Castorly Stock

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Gillett, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 217 miles and takes about 3h 50m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on West Main Street, Highway 22, East Green Bay Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.93 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

108.5 miles from Gillett, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 50m. Total distance: 217 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 3h 50m drive with frequent turns across 217 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 39 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
West Main Street 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.

Driving Effort 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 50m 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 Gillett, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Main Street
Highway 22
East Green Bay Street
North Ellis Street
East 5th Street
North Union Street
County Road MMM
Highway 29

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: West Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Mackenzie Street

43 ft · 9 sec · South Mackenzie Street
2

Turn sharp left onto West Main Street

0.6 mi · 52 sec · West Main Street
3

Continue on State Highway 22

16 mi · 26 min · State Highway 22
4

Continue on East Green Bay Street

1.5 mi · 2 min · East Green Bay Street
5

Turn right onto North Ellis Street

322 ft · 20 sec · North Ellis Street
6

Turn left onto East 5th Street

0.2 mi · 49 sec · East 5th Street
7

Turn left onto North Union Street

328 ft · 17 sec · North Union Street
8

Turn right onto East Green Bay Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Green Bay Street
9

Continue on County Road MMM

2.5 mi · 4 min · County Road MMM
10

Turn right onto State Highway 29

30 mi · 34 min · State Highway 29
11

Take the exit slight left

387 ft · 11 sec
12

Turn slight left onto Willow Drive

171 ft · 3 sec · Willow Drive
13

Continue on State Highway 49

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 49
14

Continue on Highland Avenue

1.1 mi · 1 min · Highland Avenue
15

Continue on State Highway 49

11 mi · 16 min · State Highway 49
16

At the end of the road, turn right onto Grand Avenue East

2.3 mi · 3 min · Grand Avenue East
17

Continue on State Highway 66

15 mi · 25 min · State Highway 66
18

Continue on Stanley Street

0.2 mi · 32 sec · Stanley Street
19

Turn left

1.4 mi · 1 min
20

Continue straight

34 mi · 36 min
21

Take the exit slight right toward WI 21: Coloma, Necedah

0.3 mi · 40 sec · WI 21: Coloma, Necedah
22

Keep slight right

121 ft · 3 sec
23

Merge slight left onto West Follett Drive

28 mi · 39 min · West Follett Drive
24

Continue on East 3rd Street

11 mi · 15 min · East 3rd Street
25

Continue on State Highway 21

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 21
26

Continue on East McCoy Boulevard

0.3 mi · 34 sec · East McCoy Boulevard
27

Continue on State Highway 21

0.1 mi · 12 sec · State Highway 21
28

Take the exit straight

0.3 mi · 42 sec
29

Merge slight left

2.8 mi · 2 min
30

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
31

Merge slight left

38 mi · 40 min
32

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

0.3 mi · 42 sec · WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
33

At the end of the road, turn left

4.9 mi · 8 min
34

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
35

Turn right onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
36

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
37

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
38

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

325 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
39

Arrive at your destination

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 108.5 miles from Gillett, WI, or about 1h 55m 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 48 miles or 50m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 108.5 miles or 1h 55m 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 8m

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 Gillett, 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 Gillett, WI

This is one driving day of about 217 miles and 3h 50m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Gillett, 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 108.5 mi from Gillett, WI · 1h 55m into the drive

Downtown Big Flats, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Big Flats, WI

109 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

Garfield, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Big Flats, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 108.5 miles from Gillett, 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

$33.93 one way

$67.85 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 76 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $37.25 $74.50
premium $4.89 $41.76 $83.52
diesel $5.61 $47.91 $95.82

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$34

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$59–$84

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 65.1 0 $22.78 $10.42
Efficient EV 54.3 0 $18.99 $8.68
EV Truck/SUV 86.8 1 $30.38 $13.89

Gas CO2

76 kg

EV CO2

25 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Gillett, WI

Morning in Gillett on Saturday

Local time

10:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Morning in La Crosse on Saturday

Local time

10:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

44°F

Big Flats, WI

109 mi in

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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

3h 50m 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 Gillett, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 217 miles and takes about 3h 50m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are West Main Street, Highway 22, East Green Bay Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 108.5 miles from Gillett, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.93 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 straightforward 3h 50m 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 Gillett, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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

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.

Was this helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Explore more options from Gillett, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.