Trip from La Crosse, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI

Drive Time

5h 59m

Distance

275.2 mi

443 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$42

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 46m ★

6 AM

5h 59m

8 AM

6h 25m

10 AM

6h 8m

12 PM

6h 6m

3 PM

6h 10m

5 PM

6h 24m

8 PM

5h 51m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

La Crosse, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI covers 275.2 miles and takes about 5h 59m 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 82 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $41.80 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

137.6 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 5h 59m drive with frequent turns across 275.2 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.

There are about 49 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 59m 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 Baileys Harbor, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
Main Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Losey Boulevard North	Unavailable	Refreshing
WI 82	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 82	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Ormsby Street	Unavailable	Refreshing
Highway 23	Unavailable	Refreshing
Underwood Avenue	Unavailable	Refreshing
West Montello Street	Unavailable	Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Main Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on West Avenue South

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Avenue South

Turn right

351 ft · 12 sec

Turn straight onto Main Street

0.9 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

Continue straight

4.5 mi · 8 min

Take the ramp slight right

0.4 mi · 53 sec

Merge slight left

63 mi · 1 hr 7 min

Take the exit slight right toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford

0.3 mi · 40 sec · WI 82: Mauston, Oxford

Turn left onto State Highway 82

131 ft · 5 sec · State Highway 82

Continue on State Highway 82

0.2 mi · 17 sec · State Highway 82

At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 82

30 ft · 1 sec · State Highway 82

Continue on State Highway 82

25 mi · 36 min · State Highway 82

Continue on West Ormsby Street

1.1 mi · 1 min · West Ormsby Street

Continue on State Highway 82

3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 82

Continue on State Highway 23

6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23

Continue on Underwood Avenue

1.8 mi · 2 min · Underwood Avenue

Continue on West Montello Street

0.2 mi · 18 sec · West Montello Street

Continue on East Montello Street

0.6 mi · 50 sec · East Montello Street

Continue on State Highway 23

9.9 mi · 14 min · State Highway 23

Continue on South 2nd Street

0.5 mi · 49 sec · South 2nd Street

Turn right onto West Main Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Turn right onto South Fulton Street

0.8 mi · 1 min · South Fulton Street

Continue on State Highway 23 & 73

9.5 mi · 13 min · State Highway 23 & 73

Continue on State Highway 23 & 49

3.4 mi · 4 min · State Highway 23 & 49

Continue on West Fond du Lac Street

1.4 mi · 2 min · West Fond du Lac Street

Turn left onto North Union Street

404 ft · 15 sec · North Union Street

Turn straight onto West Oshkosh Street

1.4 mi · 4 min · West Oshkosh Street

Keep slight left to continue on East Oshkosh Street

262 ft · 9 sec · East Oshkosh Street

Continue on State Highway 44

15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 44

Continue on Ripon Rd

0.8 mi · 1 min · Ripon Rd

Continue on State Highway 44/91

0.2 mi · 22 sec · State Highway 44/91

Turn left onto I-41_North: Appleton

0.2 mi · 34 sec · I-41_North: Appleton

Merge slight left onto Appleton

54 mi · 58 min · Appleton

Take the exit slight right toward I 43 South, US 141 South: Milwaukee

0.3 mi · 34 sec · I 43 South, US 141 South: Milwaukee

Keep slight left to continue on I 43 South: Milwaukee

1.2 mi · 2 min · I 43 South: Milwaukee

Continue straight

4.7 mi · 5 min

Take the exit slight right toward WI 54, WI 57, LMCT: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

0.2 mi · 24 sec · WI 54, WI 57, LMCT: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

Keep slight left to continue on WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

0.5 mi · 59 sec · WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

Merge slight right onto WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

33 mi · 38 min · WI 54 East, WI 57 North: Sturgeon Bay, Algoma

Continue on State Highway 42/57

8.2 mi · 12 min · State Highway 42/57

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 42

105 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 42

Exit the rotary onto State Highway 42/57

1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 42/57

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward State Highway 42/57

102 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 42/57

Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 42/57

1.2 mi · 1 min · State Highway 42/57

Continue on Egg Harbor Road

0.1 mi · 9 sec · Egg Harbor Road

Turn slight right

18 mi · 29 min

Turn left onto County Road F

397 ft · 17 sec · County Road F

Turn left onto School Lane

262 ft · 19 sec · School Lane

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 137.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 59m 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 80 miles or 1h 44m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 137.6 miles or 2h 59m 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 54m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Baileys Harbor, 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 275.2 miles and 5h 59m.

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.

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 137.6 mi from La Crosse, WI · 2h 59m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

138 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 137.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Baileys Harbor, WI

The final approach into Baileys Harbor, 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 Baileys Harbor, 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

$41.80 one way

$83.60 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 96 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$46.08	$92.16
premium	$4.80	$51.95	$103.90
diesel	$5.64	$61.14	$122.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$42

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$67–$92

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	82.6	1	$28.90	$13.21
Efficient EV	68.8	0	$24.08	$11.01
EV Truck/SUV	110.1	1	$38.53	$17.61

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 3 days ago

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Morning in La Crosse on Monday

Local time

10:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Baileys Harbor, WI

Morning in Baileys Harbor on Monday

Local time

10:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

39°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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

5h 59m 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 Baileys Harbor, WI covers 275.2 miles and takes about 5h 59m 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 82. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 137.6 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 $41.80 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 straightforward 5h 59m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from La Crosse, WI to Baileys Harbor, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

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