Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning in La Crosse on Thursday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
4h 47m
Distance
215.6 mi
347 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 34m
★
6 AM
4h 48m
8 AM
5h 15m
10 AM
4h 57m
12 PM
4h 54m
3 PM
4h 58m
5 PM
5h 13m
8 PM
4h 39m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Arbor Vitae, WI
Catalin M
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI covers 215.6 miles and takes about 4h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Main Street, Losey Boulevard North, I 94 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.71 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
107.8 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 23m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 47m. Total distance: 215.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 47m 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 4h 47m drive with frequent turns across 215.6 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 42 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
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 4h 47m 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 La Crosse, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | — | — |
| Losey Boulevard North | — | — |
| I 94 West | — | — |
| US 12 | — | — |
| East McCoy Boulevard | — | — |
| Highway 21 | — | — |
| Highway 173 | — | — |
| Highway 80 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Main Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Arbor Vitae, WI.
1
Start on West Avenue South
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Avenue South
2
Turn right
351 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn straight onto Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
5
Continue straight
4.5 mi
·
8 min
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
7
Merge slight left
39 mi
·
41 min
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
·
I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
9
Merge slight right
2.9 mi
·
3 min
10
Take the exit slight right toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
11
Turn right onto East McCoy Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East McCoy Boulevard
12
Continue on State Highway 21
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 21
13
Turn left onto State Highway 173
24 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 173
14
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 173
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 173
15
Continue on State Highway 80
410 ft
·
9 sec
·
State Highway 80
16
Turn right onto State Highway 173
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 173
17
Continue on County Highway G
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G
18
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 54
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 54
19
Continue on Letendre Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Letendre Avenue
20
At the end of the road, turn left onto Wisconsin River Drive
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wisconsin River Drive
21
Continue on 2nd Avenue South
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue South
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 2nd Avenue South
66 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Avenue South
23
Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue South
24
Turn left onto West Riverview Expressway
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Riverview Expressway
25
Continue straight
14 mi
·
20 min
26
Take the ramp right
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
27
Merge slight left onto US Highway 10
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 10
28
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34, CTH P, CTH HH: Knowlton, Stevens Point
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
·
WI 34, CTH P, CTH HH: Knowlton, Stevens Point
29
Turn left onto State Highway 134
0.1 mi
·
21 sec
·
State Highway 134
30
Continue on WI 34
0.2 mi
·
23 sec
·
WI 34
31
Continue on State Highway 34
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 34
32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34
131 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 34
33
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34
0.3 mi
·
39 sec
·
State Highway 34
34
Take the ramp left
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
35
Merge slight left
12 mi
·
13 min
36
Merge slight right
48 mi
·
55 min
37
Keep slight left
23 mi
·
32 min
38
Turn slight right onto Chippewa Street
3.8 mi
·
9 min
·
Chippewa Street
39
Take the exit straight
499 ft
·
15 sec
40
Turn straight onto State Highway 70
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 70
41
Turn left onto Big Arbor Vitae Drive
449 ft
·
20 sec
·
Big Arbor Vitae Drive
42
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 107.8 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 23m 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 47 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 107.8 miles or 2h 23m 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 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Arbor Vitae, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving La Crosse, 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 La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 215.6 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 47 miles from La Crosse, 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 107.8 mi from La Crosse, WI · 2h 23m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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 47 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 107.8 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Arbor Vitae, WI
The final approach into Arbor Vitae, 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 Arbor Vitae, 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
$33.71 one way
$67.41 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
75 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.01 | $74.02 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.49 | $82.98 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.60 | $95.20 |
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: 75.4 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 | 64.7 | 0 | $22.64 | $10.35 |
| Efficient EV | 53.9 | 0 | $18.87 | $8.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.2 | 1 | $30.18 | $13.80 |
Gas CO2
75 kg
EV CO2
25 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
Arbor Vitae, WI
Morning in Arbor Vitae on Thursday
Local time
11:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
6 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 47m 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 La Crosse, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI covers 215.6 miles and takes about 4h 47m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Losey Boulevard North, I 94 West. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 107.8 miles from La Crosse, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $33.71 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 47m 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 La Crosse, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Arbor Vitae, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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