Drive Time
4h 58m
Distance
223.5 mi
360 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Photo: Eduardo Reiser
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Saint Germain, WI covers 223.5 miles and takes about 4h 58m 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 $30.36 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
111.8 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 29m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 58m drive with frequent turns across 223.5 miles of local and secondary roads.
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.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 4h 58m 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 Saint Germain, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Losey Boulevard North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 12 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East McCoy Boulevard | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 21 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 173 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Highway 80 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Saint Germain, WI.
Start on West Avenue South
Turn right
Turn straight onto Main Street
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
Continue straight
Take the ramp slight right
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight left toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Merge slight right
Take the exit slight right toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
Turn right onto East McCoy Boulevard
Continue on State Highway 21
Turn left onto State Highway 173
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 173
Continue on State Highway 80
Turn right onto State Highway 173
Continue on County Highway G
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 54
Continue on Letendre Avenue
At the end of the road, turn left onto Wisconsin River Drive
Continue on 2nd Avenue South
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 2nd Avenue South
Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South
Turn left onto West Riverview Expressway
Continue straight
Take the ramp right
Merge slight left onto US Highway 10
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34, CTH P, CTH HH: Knowlton, Stevens Point
Turn left onto State Highway 134
Continue on WI 34
Continue on State Highway 34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34
Take the ramp left
Merge slight left
Merge slight right
Keep slight left
Turn right onto County Road D
At the end of the road, turn left onto Bradley Street
Turn right onto County Highway D
Turn straight onto County Highway E
Turn right onto County Road J
Turn left onto Parkway Road
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 70
Arrive at your 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 80 miles or 1h 46m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 111.8 miles or 2h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 4m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Germain, 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 223.5 miles and 4h 58m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 111.8 mi from La Crosse, WI · 2h 29m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
112 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 111.8 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Saint Germain, 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 Saint Germain, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$30.36 one way
$60.71 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $33.88 | $67.75 |
| premium | $4.15 | $36.52 | $73.03 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $33.00 | $65.99 |
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: 78.2 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.1 | 0 | $23.47 | $10.73 |
| Efficient EV | 55.9 | 0 | $19.56 | $8.94 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 89.4 | 1 | $31.29 | $14.30 |
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Afternoon in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Afternoon in Saint Germain on Saturday
Local time
2:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
41°F
Menomonee Falls, WI
112 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
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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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