The drive from La Crosse, WI to Paddock Lake, WI covers 229.6 miles and takes about 4h 29m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, I 39, I 43 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.90 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
114.8 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 29m. Total distance: 229.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 29m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 29m highway drive covering 229.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch is about 131 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 131 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 229.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.6 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
7.1 mi into trip|~15m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
138.1 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|I 39; I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
6
175.6 mi into trip|~3h 16m in|WI 11 / East Racine Street
Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
204 mi into trip|~3h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
7
212.6 mi into trip|~4h 2m in
Take the exit toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 330B
Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
131 mi
2h 20m
I 39
37.2 mi
39m
I 43
11.7 mi
12m
WI 11
11.2 mi
15m
State Highway 50
10.2 mi
14m
US 12
7.7 mi
8m
WI 16
4.5 mi
8m
75th Street
3.5 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 131 mi, about 2h 20m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Paddock Lake, WI.
1
Start on WI 35
0.7 mi·2 min·West Avenue South
2
Turn right
350 ft·12 sec
3
Turn straight onto CTH F
0.9 mi·2 min·Main Street
4
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
5
Continue on WI 16
4.5 mi·8 min·WI 16
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·53 sec
7
Merge onto I 90
131 mi·2 hr 20 min·I 90
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
37 mi·39 min·I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 175Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
10
Keep slight left at fork
518 ft·13 sec
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
297 ft·16 sec·East Racine Street
12
Continue on WI 11
0.1 mi·12 sec·East Racine Street
13
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
112 ft·6 sec·East Racine Street
14
Continue on WI 11
1.3 mi·2 min·East Racine Street
15
Turn straight onto WI 11
11 mi·15 min·WI 11
16
Continue on US 14
3.5 mi·4 min·US 14
17
Turn left
0.4 mi·47 sec
18
Merge onto I 43
12 mi·12 min·I 43
19
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 27AToward US 12 East: Lake GenevaUse the slight right lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·55 sec
21
Merge onto US 12
7.7 mi·8 min·US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 330BToward WI 50 East: KenoshaUse the right lane.
23
Continue on WI 50; WI 120
10 mi·14 min·State Highway 50
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on WI 50; WI 83
2.3 mi·3 min·Geneva Road
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on WI 50
3.5 mi·5 min·75th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
26
Turn left onto 248th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·248th Avenue
27
Turn right onto 69th Place
512 ft·22 sec·69th Place
28
Continue on 245th Avenue
389 ft·17 sec·245th Avenue
29
Continue on 244th Avenue
0.3 mi·1 min·244th Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
244th Avenue
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 114.8 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131 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 51 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 114.8 miles or 2h 10m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Paddock Lake, 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 229.6 miles and 4h 29m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 131 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 114.8 mi from La Crosse, WI
· 2h 10m into the drive
The midpoint is around 114.8 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131 miles.
Arriving in Paddock Lake, WI
The final approach into Paddock Lake, 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 Paddock Lake, WI.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 79.2
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.90 one way
$71.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg80 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$39.41
$78.82
premium
$4.89
$44.18
$88.37
diesel
$5.61
$50.69
$101.39
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
68.9
0
$24.11
$11.02
Efficient EV
57.4
0
$20.09
$9.18
EV Truck/SUV
91.8
1
$32.14
$14.69
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 17, 2026
Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
S 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Paddock Lake, WI
Morning
in Paddock Lake on Saturday
Local time
11:34 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lodi, WI
115 mi in
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
8 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 29m 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 Paddock Lake, WI covers 229.6 miles and takes about 4h 29m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 39, I 43. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 114.8 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 $35.90 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 229.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.6 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Paddock Lake, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
