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Trip from La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 17m

Distance

160 mi

257 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$25

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 35 min
4 AM
3h 6m ★
6 AM
3h 17m
8 AM
3h 41m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 23m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 10m

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

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI covers 160 miles and takes about 3h 17m 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, WI 33 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $25.01 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

80 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 160 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 17m 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 17m drive with frequent turns across 160 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 23 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. 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 La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI is easy. At 3h 17m 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 La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Main Street
Losey Boulevard North
WI 33
West Wisconsin Street
Highway 51
Highway 16
James Street
Park Avenue

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 Oak Grove, 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

100 mi · 1 hr 46 min
8

Take the exit slight right toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo

0.2 mi · 32 sec · WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
9

Keep slight right

174 ft · 4 sec
10

Turn straight

4.0 mi · 5 min
11

Turn right onto West Wisconsin Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · West Wisconsin Street
12

Continue on US Highway 51 & State Highway 16

2.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
13

Turn left onto State Highway 16

23 mi · 31 min · State Highway 16
14

Continue on James Street

0.4 mi · 53 sec · James Street
15

Turn left

0.4 mi · 54 sec
16

Merge slight left

13 mi · 15 min
17

Take the exit slight right toward WI 33: Beaver Dam, Horicon

0.3 mi · 34 sec · WI 33: Beaver Dam, Horicon
18

Keep slight right

226 ft · 5 sec
19

Turn straight onto Park Avenue

0.3 mi · 31 sec · Park Avenue
20

Continue on State Highway 33

3.0 mi · 4 min · State Highway 33
21

Turn right onto County Road A

4.2 mi · 7 min · County Road A
22

Turn left onto Arbor Road

46 ft · 1 sec · Arbor Road
23

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 80 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 38m 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 35 miles or 43m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 80 miles or 1h 38m 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 41m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Grove, 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 160 miles and 3h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 35 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 80 mi from La Crosse, WI · 1h 38m into the drive

reservoir on the Wisconsin River in Sauk and Columbia counties in Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Wisconsin, WI

80 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

Angelo, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 35 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Wisconsin, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 80 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Oak Grove, WI

The final approach into Oak Grove, 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 Oak Grove, 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

$25.01 one way

$50.03 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 56 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $27.46 $54.93
premium $4.89 $30.79 $61.58
diesel $5.61 $35.33 $70.65

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$25

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$50–$75

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 56 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $17 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 48 0 $16.80 $7.68
Efficient EV 40 0 $14.00 $6.40
EV Truck/SUV 64 0 $22.40 $10.24

Gas CO2

56 kg

EV CO2

19 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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Thursday

Local time

1:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Oak Grove, WI

Afternoon in Oak Grove on Thursday

Local time

1:42 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°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

20 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

3h 17m 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 La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI covers 160 miles and takes about 3h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Losey Boulevard North, WI 33. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 80 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 $25.01 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 La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI is easy. At 3h 17m 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 La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Oak Grove, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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