Origin
Grafton, WI
Afternoon in Grafton on Thursday
Local time
12:33 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 33m
Distance
194.8 mi
313 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 21m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 42m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 57m
8 PM
3h 26m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Grafton, WI
Tom Fisk
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 194.8 miles and takes about 3h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Washington Street, the route, Highway 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $30.45 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
97.4 miles from Grafton, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 33m. Total distance: 194.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 33m 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 33m drive with frequent turns across 194.8 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 49 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Washington 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Washington Street | — | — |
| the route | — | — |
| Highway 60 | — | — |
| I 41 North | — | — |
| US 41 North | — | — |
| WI 33 | — | — |
| Main Street | — | — |
| Highway 33 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Washington Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Grafton, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on the route
79 ft
·
11 sec
·
the route
2
At the end of the road, turn left onto Washington Street
1.9 mi
·
5 min
·
Washington Street
3
Continue straight
2.7 mi
·
5 min
4
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
144 ft
·
3 sec
·
the route
5
Exit the roundabout
3.9 mi
·
5 min
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 60
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 60
7
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 60
3.2 mi
·
6 min
·
State Highway 60
8
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 60
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
State Highway 60
9
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 60
427 ft
·
9 sec
·
State Highway 60
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 60
95 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 60
11
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 60
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 60
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 60
105 ft
·
6 sec
·
State Highway 60
13
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 60
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 60
14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 60
128 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 60
15
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 60
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
State Highway 60
16
Take the ramp right toward I 41 North, US 41 North: Appleton, Fond du Lac
0.4 mi
·
54 sec
·
I 41 North, US 41 North: Appleton, Fond du Lac
17
Merge slight left onto US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
7.5 mi
·
8 min
·
US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
18
Take the exit slight right toward WI 33, CTH W: Allenton, West Bend
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
·
WI 33, CTH W: Allenton, West Bend
19
Turn left onto Main Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
20
Continue on State Highway 33
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 33
21
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 33
118 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 33
22
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 33
8.4 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 33
23
Continue on Lake Street
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Lake Street
24
Turn left onto Vine Street
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Vine Street
25
Continue on Barstow Street
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
·
Barstow Street
26
Continue on Main Street
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
Main Street
27
Turn right onto Washington Street
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
Washington Street
28
Continue on State Highway 33
8.0 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 33
29
Continue on Park Avenue
0.5 mi
·
55 sec
·
Park Avenue
30
Turn left
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
31
Merge slight left
13 mi
·
15 min
32
Take the exit slight right toward WI 16, WI 60: Columbus, Portage
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
WI 16, WI 60: Columbus, Portage
33
Keep slight right
240 ft
·
6 sec
34
Turn straight onto James Street
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
James Street
35
Continue on State Highway 16
23 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 16
36
Turn straight onto US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
2.7 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
37
Continue on East Wisconsin Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
East Wisconsin Street
38
Turn left onto West Cook Street
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
West Cook Street
39
Take the ramp slight right
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
40
Merge slight left
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
41
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
42
Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
43
At the end of the road, turn left
4.9 mi
·
8 min
44
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
45
Turn right onto Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
46
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
47
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
48
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South
325 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
49
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 97.4 miles from Grafton, WI, or about 1h 46m 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 43 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 97.4 miles or 1h 46m 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 55m
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 Grafton, 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 Grafton, WI
This is one driving day of about 194.8 miles and 3h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 43 miles from Grafton, 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 97.4 mi from Grafton, WI · 1h 46m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
97 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 43 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 97.4 miles from Grafton, 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
$30.45 one way
$60.91 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
68 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $33.44 | $66.88 |
| premium | $4.89 | $37.49 | $74.97 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.01 | $86.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 68.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 58.4 | 0 | $20.45 | $9.35 |
| Efficient EV | 48.7 | 0 | $17.04 | $7.79 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 77.9 | 0 | $27.27 | $12.47 |
Gas CO2
68 kg
EV CO2
23 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
Afternoon in La Crosse on Thursday
Local time
12:33 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 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 Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 194.8 miles and takes about 3h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Washington Street, the route, Highway 60. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 97.4 miles from Grafton, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $30.45 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.
The drive from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 3h 33m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Grafton, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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