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Trip from La Crosse, WI to Fontana, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

3h 56m

Distance

201.3 mi

324 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

30 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min
4 AM
3h 43m ★
6 AM
3h 56m
8 AM
4h 22m
10 AM
4h 5m
12 PM
4h 2m
3 PM
4h 6m
5 PM
4h 20m
8 PM
3h 48m

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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city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Fontana, WI, WI

Fontana, WI

George Piskov

Trip Overview

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Fontana, WI covers 201.3 miles and takes about 3h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, I 39, WI 11 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 131 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.47 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

1 planned break

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

Midpoint

100.7 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 55m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 201.3 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Drive Character

This is a 3h 56m highway drive covering 201.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch is about 131 miles on I 90.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 131 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 90.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

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

5
7.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 90

Merge onto I 90

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
138.1 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | I 39; I 90

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
5
175.3 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Take the exit toward WI 11 East: Delavan

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
5
175.5 mi into trip | ~3h 15m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

6
175.6 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 131 mi 2h 20m
I 39 37.2 mi 39m
WI 11 11.2 mi 15m
US 14 10.3 mi 15m
WI 16 4.5 mi 8m
Brick Church Road 1.6 mi 3m
East Racine Street 1.6 mi 2m
Main Street 0.9 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 131 mi, about 2h 20m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

4.5 mi · 8 min · WI 16
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
7

Merge onto I 90

131 mi · 2 hr 20 min · I 90
Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90

37 mi · 39 min · I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
10

Keep slight left at fork

518 ft · 13 sec
11

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

297 ft · 16 sec · East Racine Street
12

Continue on WI 11

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Racine Street
13

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

112 ft · 6 sec · East Racine Street
14

Continue on WI 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street
15

Turn straight onto WI 11

11 mi · 15 min · WI 11
16

Continue on US 14

10 mi · 15 min · US 14
17

Turn left onto Brick Church Road

1.6 mi · 3 min · Brick Church Road
18

Continue on Dewey Avenue

0.4 mi · 58 sec · Dewey Avenue
19

Turn left onto WI 67

0.4 mi · 38 sec · State Highway 67
20

Turn right onto Kinzie Avenue

0.2 mi · 39 sec · Kinzie Avenue
21

Arrive at destination

Kinzie Avenue

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 100.7 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 55m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131 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 44 miles or 54m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.7 miles or 1h 55m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 4m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fontana, 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 201.3 miles and 3h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 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.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 131 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100.7 mi from La Crosse, WI · 1h 55m into the drive

reservoir on the Wisconsin River in Sauk and Columbia counties in Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Wisconsin, WI

101 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

Angelo, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Wisconsin, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.7 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131 miles.

Arriving in Fontana, WI

The final approach into Fontana, 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 Fontana, WI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 83.3
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.47 one way

$62.94 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 70 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $34.55 $69.11
premium $4.89 $38.74 $77.48
diesel $5.61 $44.44 $88.89

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

EV Charging Along Route

30 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Culver's - Tesla Supercharger

Wisconsin Dells, WI

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lake Delton, WI Rechargery Relay - Gasser Rd

Lake Delton, WI

IONNA

10 DCFC

Taphouse Twenty - Tesla Supercharger

Tomah, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Midwest Prairie Business Center - Tesla Supercharger

Onalaska, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Culver's of Mauston - Tesla Supercharger

Mauston, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Sun Prairie, WI

Sun Prairie, WI

RIVIAN_ADVENTURE

6 DCFC

Kwik Trip #762

La Crosse, WI

KWIK_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Dahl Ford

Onalaska, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 9 Tesla: 5 KWIK_CHARGE: 3 Blink Network: 2 FORD_CHARGE: 2 EV Connect: 1 FLO: 1 Electrify America: 1 ZEFNET: 1 eVgo Network: 1 IONNA: 1 RIVIAN_ADVENTURE: 1 Non-Networked: 1 SYNERGEV: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.4 0 $21.14 $9.66
Efficient EV 50.3 0 $17.61 $8.05
EV Truck/SUV 80.5 1 $28.18 $12.88

Gas CO2

70 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (66% 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 as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Night in La Crosse on Thursday

Local time

10:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Sunny

SW 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 4:45PM CDT until April 19 at 1:27AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:11PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Fontana, WI

Night in Fontana on Thursday

Local time

10:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°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

21 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

3h 56m 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 Fontana, WI covers 201.3 miles and takes about 3h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 39, WI 11. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 100.7 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 $31.47 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Fontana, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

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