Origin
La Crosse, WI
Night in La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
9:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Alma, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 17m
Distance
55.2 mi
89 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$9
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 18m
8 AM
1h 30m
10 AM
1h 22m
12 PM
1h 21m
3 PM
1h 22m
5 PM
1h 29m
8 PM
1h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Alma, WI covers 55.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Jackson Street, 4th Street South, Cass Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $8.63 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
27.6 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 38m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 1h 17m drive with frequent turns across 55.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 22 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Jackson 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.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Alma, WI is easy. At 1h 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 Alma, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Jackson Street | — | — |
| 4th Street South | — | — |
| Cass Street | — | — |
| Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway | — | — |
| US 14 | — | — |
| Huff Street | — | — |
| West 4th Street | — | — |
| Highway 43 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Jackson Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Alma, WI.
1
Start on West Avenue South
39 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Avenue South
2
Turn left onto Jackson Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Jackson Street
3
Turn right onto 4th Street South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street South
4
Turn left onto Cass Street
1.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Cass Street
5
Continue on Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
6
Turn right
7.2 mi
·
8 min
7
Keep slight right to continue on US 14, US 61: Winona
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 14, US 61: Winona
8
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
1 min
9
Continue straight
13 mi
·
15 min
10
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
11
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 14;US 61
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 14;US 61
12
Exit the rotary onto US 14;US 61
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
US 14;US 61
13
Turn right onto Huff Street
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
Huff Street
14
Turn right onto West 4th Street
371 ft
·
15 sec
·
West 4th Street
15
Turn left onto Minnesota Highway 43
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Minnesota Highway 43
16
Continue on State Road 54
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
State Road 54
17
Turn left onto State Road 35
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
State Road 35
18
Continue on South Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
19
Turn straight onto North Shore Drive
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
North Shore Drive
20
Continue on State Road 35
15 mi
·
21 min
·
State Road 35
21
Continue on South Main Street
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
22
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 27.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 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 12 miles or 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 27.6 miles or 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 1h 5m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Alma, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 55.2 miles and 1h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 12 miles from La Crosse, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 27.6 mi from La Crosse, WI · 38m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
28 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 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 27.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Alma, WI
The final approach into Alma, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$8.63 one way
$17.26 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
19 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $9.48 | $18.95 |
| premium | $4.89 | $10.62 | $21.25 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $12.19 | $24.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$9
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$34–$59
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 19.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| Efficient EV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 22.1 | 0 | $7.73 | $3.53 |
Gas CO2
19 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (68% 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
Alma, WI
Night in Alma on Wednesday
Local time
9:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 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 Alma, WI covers 55.2 miles and takes about 1h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Jackson Street, 4th Street South, Cass Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 27.6 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 $8.63 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Alma, WI is easy. At 1h 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 Alma, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Alma, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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