Origin
La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Ettrick, WI
Drive Time
49m
Distance
32.7 mi
53 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 45m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 52m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 57m
8 PM
0h 47m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Tom Fisk
Ettrick, WI
Anete Lusina
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Ettrick, WI covers 32.7 miles and takes about 49m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on WI 157, South Main Street, US 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 12.7 miles on WI 157. At current regular gas prices, budget about $4.97 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
16.3 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 25m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 49m highway drive covering 32.7 miles, with most of the trip on WI 157 and South Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 12.7 miles on WI 157.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 14 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
WI 157 is the longest continuous segment at about 12.7 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 157 and South Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Route Complexity
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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 5 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Losey Boulevard North
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
Navigation decision point
3
24.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
3
32.4 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
Caroline Street
Turn right onto Caroline Street
Navigation decision point
4
32.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
|
CTH D / South Main Street
Turn right onto CTH D / South Main Street
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| WI 157 | 12.7 mi | 15m |
| South Main Street | 8.1 mi | 12m |
| US 53 | 5.7 mi | 7m |
| WI 16 | 3.3 mi | 6m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Bridge Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
WI 157
— 12.7 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Ettrick, 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
3.3 mi
·
6 min
·
WI 16
6
Turn slight left
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
7
Turn left onto WI 157
13 mi
·
15 min
·
WI 157
8
Continue on US 53; WI 93
5.7 mi
·
7 min
·
US 53; WI 93
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
10
Turn straight onto US 53
8.1 mi
·
12 min
·
South Main Street
11
Turn right onto Caroline Street
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
·
Caroline Street
12
Continue on Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
Bridge Street
13
Turn right onto CTH D
15 ft
·
0 sec
·
South Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
CTH D
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 16.3 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 12.7 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 32.7 miles or 49m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 16.3 miles or 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 41m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ettrick, 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 32.7 miles and 49m.
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 WI 157 for about 12.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 16.3 mi from La Crosse, WI · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.7 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.3 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Ettrick, WI
The final approach into Ettrick, 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 Ettrick, 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
$4.97 one way
$9.93 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
11 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $5.48 | $10.95 |
| premium | $4.80 | $6.17 | $12.35 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$5
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$30–$55
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.8 | 0 | $3.43 | $1.57 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.86 | $1.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.1 | 0 | $4.58 | $2.09 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Ettrick, WI
Afternoon in Ettrick on Sunday
Local time
3:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
38°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
1 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
49m 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 Ettrick, WI covers 32.7 miles and takes about 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are WI 157, South Main Street, US 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 16.3 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 $4.97 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.
This is a straightforward 49m drive. You will face about 5 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
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.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Ettrick, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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