Trip from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI

Drive Time

Distance

79.1 mi

127 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min

4 AM

1h 51m ★

6 AM

2h 0m

8 AM

2h 17m

10 AM

2h 6m

12 PM

2h 4m

3 PM

2h 7m

5 PM

2h 17m

8 PM

1h 55m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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La Crosse, WI

Tom Fisk

Augusta, WI

Egor Komarov

Trip Overview

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI covers 79.1 miles and takes about 2h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on South Main Street, WI 157, US Highway 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 24.2 miles on South Main Street. At current regular gas prices, budget about $12.01 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

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

39.6 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Drive Character

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI covers 79.1 miles and takes about 2h, using a mix of highways and local roads.

Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.

There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

South Main Street is the longest continuous segment at about 24.2 miles.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,020 ft 669 ft

Total Climb

485 ft

Total Descent

196 ft

Highest Point

1,020 ft

~73.5 mi in

Elevation Range

352 ft

How Hard Is This Drive?

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple — set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.

Route Complexity 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI is easy. At 2h with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | Losey Boulevard North

Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

Navigation decision point

24.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

49 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Navigation decision point

77.5 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | US 12; WI 27

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
South Main Street	24.2 mi	34m
WI 157	12.7 mi	15m
US Highway 53	10.5 mi	14m
Main Street	8.6 mi	13m
County Highway R	6.8 mi	11m
US 53	5.7 mi	7m
WI 16	3.3 mi	6m
10th Street	1.7 mi	3m

Longest stretch: South Main Street — 24.2 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Augusta, WI.

Start on WI 35

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Avenue South

Turn right

350 ft · 12 sec

Turn straight onto CTH F

0.9 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

Continue on WI 16

3.3 mi · 6 min · WI 16

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 15 sec

Turn left onto WI 157

13 mi · 15 min · WI 157

Continue on US 53; WI 93

5.7 mi · 7 min · US 53; WI 93

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec

Turn straight onto US 53

24 mi · 34 min · South Main Street

Continue on US 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ervin Street

Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D

7.7 mi · 11 min · Main Street

Continue on US 53

11 mi · 14 min · US Highway 53

Continue on US 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · Harmony Street

Turn right onto US 10

1.7 mi · 3 min · 10th Street

Continue on US 10

0.8 mi · 1 min · US Highway 10

Turn left onto CTH R

0.5 mi · 53 sec · County Road R

Continue on CTH R

6.8 mi · 11 min · County Highway R

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

1.6 mi · 3 min · US 12; WI 27

Turn left onto CTH G

198 ft · 5 sec · County Highway G

Arrive at destination

CTH G

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 39.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 58m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.2 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 79.1 miles or 2h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.6 miles or 58m 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Augusta, 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 79.1 miles and 2h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from La Crosse, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on South Main Street for about 24.2 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 39.6 mi from La Crosse, WI · 58m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dubuque, IA

40 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

Saint Paul, MN

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 79.1 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dubuque, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Augusta, WI

The final approach into Augusta, 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 Augusta, 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

$12.01 one way

$24.03 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$13.24	$26.49
premium	$4.80	$14.93	$29.86
diesel	$5.64	$17.57	$35.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	23.7	$8.31	$3.80
Efficient EV	19.8	$6.92	$3.16
EV Truck/SUV	31.6	$11.07	$5.06

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast data refreshed 58 minutes ago

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday

Local time

3:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 13 to 21 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:53PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 11:31AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Destination

Augusta, WI

Afternoon in Augusta on Sunday

Local time

3:03 PM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 15 to 20 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:53PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 11:31AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

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

2 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

2h on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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 Augusta, WI covers 79.1 miles and takes about 2h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are South Main Street, WI 157, US Highway 53. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 39.6 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 $12.01 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 Augusta, WI is easy. At 2h with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

The route from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.