Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 12m
Distance
134.6 mi
217 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
New Richmond, WI
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from La Crosse, WI to New Richmond, WI covers 134.6 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 14, Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway, State Highway 35 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 31.8 miles on US 14. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.04 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
67.3 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 134.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (44%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
The drive from La Crosse, WI to New Richmond, WI covers 134.6 miles and takes about 3h 12m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 33 / Jackson Street.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 134.6 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 33 / Jackson Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.6 miles (US 14; US 61 / 4th Street South): Navigation decision point; at 11.4 miles (US 14; US 61): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Turn left onto WI 33 / Jackson Street
Navigation decision point
Turn right onto US 14; US 61 / 4th Street South
Navigation decision point
Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61 toward US 14, US 61: Winona
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61 / US 14;US 61
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 14 | 31.8 mi | 39m |
| Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway | 25.3 mi | 29m |
| State Highway 35 | 11.4 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 65 | 7.7 mi | 10m |
| County Road D | 7.1 mi | 12m |
| Great River Road | 6.7 mi | 10m |
| US Highway 63 | 6.4 mi | 8m |
| County Highway T | 4.5 mi | 6m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and New Richmond, WI.
Start on WI 35
Turn left onto WI 33
Turn right onto US 14; US 61
Turn left onto US 14; US 61; WI 16
Continue on US 14; US 61; MN 16
Turn right onto US 14; US 61
Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61
Continue on US 14; US 61
Continue on US 14; US 61
Continue on US 14; US 61
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61
Continue on US 14; US 61
Continue on US 14; US 61
Continue on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
Continue on US 61
Turn right onto Pembroke Avenue South
Turn left onto MN 60
Turn slight right onto MN 60
Continue on WI 25
Continue on WI 25
Continue on WI 25
Continue on WI 25; WI 35
Continue on WI 25; WI 35
Continue on WI 35
Continue on WI 35
Continue on WI 35
Continue on WI 35
Turn right onto CTH D
Turn left onto US 10
Turn right onto CTH DD
At end of road, turn right onto US 63
Turn slight left onto CTH Y
Continue on CTH M
Turn right onto CTH T
Turn left onto County Highway Z
Continue on CTH N
Turn right onto Kinnickinnic Road
Continue on 130th Street
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Turn right onto CTH K
Arrive at destination
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.
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 30 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 67.3 miles or 1h 27m 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 35m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Richmond, WI than in the middle of the route.
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 134.6 miles and 3h 12m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 67.3 mi from La Crosse, WI · 1h 27m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
67 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.
A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 67.3 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into New Richmond, 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 New Richmond, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$21.04 one way
$42.09 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.10 | $46.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $25.90 | $51.81 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $29.72 | $59.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 40.4 | 0 | $14.13 | $6.46 |
| Efficient EV | 33.7 | 0 | $11.78 | $5.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 53.8 | 0 | $18.84 | $8.61 |
Gas CO2
47 kg
EV CO2
16 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in New Richmond on Saturday
Local time
10:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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