Origin
Hayward, WI
Morning in Hayward on Friday
Local time
10:11 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Hayward, WI to La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 9m
Distance
190.4 mi
306 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 56m
★
6 AM
4h 9m
8 AM
4h 35m
10 AM
4h 18m
12 PM
4h 16m
3 PM
4h 20m
5 PM
4h 34m
8 PM
4h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Hayward, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Hayward, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 190.4 miles and takes about 4h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 53, State Highway 93, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 96.2 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.77 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
95.2 miles from Hayward, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 53m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 9m. Total distance: 190.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 9m highway drive covering 190.4 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and State Highway 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 96.2 miles on US 53.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 96.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and State Highway 93. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 63.
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 4h 9m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (US 63): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.9 miles (US 63): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 63
Depart onto US 63
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
20.7 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 63
Enter roundabout onto US 63
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
20.9 mi into trip
|
~29m in
|
US 63
Enter roundabout onto US 63 toward US 53 South, US 63 South,
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 South, US 63 South,
6
24.4 mi into trip
|
~34m in
|
US 53
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
5
190.4 mi into trip
|
~4h 9m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 96.2 mi | 1h 49m |
| State Highway 93 | 59.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 63 | 24.4 mi | 34m |
| WI 16 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Osseo Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| WI 157 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 96.2 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Hayward, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on US 63
21 mi
·
29 min
·
US 63
Use the straight lane.
2
Enter roundabout onto US 63
132 ft
·
7 sec
·
US 63
3
Continue on US 63
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 63
4
Enter roundabout onto US 63
17 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 63
Toward US 53 South, US 63 South,
5
Continue on US 63
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 63
Toward US 53 South, US 63 South,
6
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
81 mi
·
1 hr 31 min
·
US 53
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Toward WI 93
8
Continue on this road
0.4 mi
·
48 sec
·
this road
Toward WI 93
9
Continue on WI 93
15 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 93
10
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lake Park Drive
11
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street North
12
Continue on WI 93
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 93
13
Continue on WI 93; WI 121
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Osseo Road
14
Continue on WI 93
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Washington Street
15
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
Burrows Road
16
Continue on WI 93
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Diagonal Street
17
Continue on WI 93
21 mi
·
29 min
·
State Highway 93
18
Continue on WI 93; WI 54
8.2 mi
·
11 min
·
State Highway 93
19
Continue on US 53; WI 93
15 mi
·
18 min
·
US 53; WI 93
20
Turn straight onto WI 157
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 157
21
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
22
Turn straight onto WI 16
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
WI 16
23
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
24
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
25
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
26
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
27
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
28
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 95.2 miles from Hayward, WI, or about 1h 53m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 96.2 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 42 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 95.2 miles or 1h 53m 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 18m
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 Hayward, 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 Hayward, WI
This is one driving day of about 190.4 miles and 4h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 42 miles from Hayward, 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 US 53 for about 96.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 95.2 mi from Hayward, WI · 1h 53m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
95 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 42 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 95.2 miles from Hayward, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 53 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 96.2 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.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.77 one way
$59.53 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
67 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.68 | $65.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $36.64 | $73.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $42.04 | $84.08 |
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: 66.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 57.1 | 0 | $19.99 | $9.14 |
| Efficient EV | 47.6 | 0 | $16.66 | $7.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 76.2 | 0 | $26.66 | $12.19 |
Gas CO2
67 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Morning in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
10:11 AM
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
2 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
4h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Hayward, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 190.4 miles and takes about 4h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 53, State Highway 93, US 63. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 95.2 miles from Hayward, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.77 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 9m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 63): Lane positioning matters here; at 20.7 miles (US 63): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 20.9 miles (US 63): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
The route from Hayward, 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.
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