Origin
La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Kenosha, WI
Drive Time
3h 49m
Distance
246 mi
396 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$37
one way
La Crosse, WI
Tom Fisk
Kenosha, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Kenosha, WI covers 246 miles and takes about 3h 49m 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, I 94 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.36 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
123 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 54m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 3h 49m drive with frequent turns across 246 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 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 3h 49m 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 Kenosha, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Main Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Losey Boulevard North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 41 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 41 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Zoo Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North-South Freeway | 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 Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on West Avenue South
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Avenue South
2
Turn right
351 ft
·
12 sec
3
Turn straight onto Main Street
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Main Street
4
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
5
Continue straight
4.5 mi
·
8 min
6
Take the ramp slight right
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
7
Merge slight left
131 mi
·
2 hr 20 min
8
Keep slight left to continue on I 94: Milwaukee
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 94: Milwaukee
9
Take the exit slight right toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
10
Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
11
Continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
·
I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
12
Keep slight left to continue on I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
13
Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
14
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Airport Freeway
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
16
Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway
23 mi
·
25 min
·
North-South Freeway
17
Take the exit slight right toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
·
WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington
18
Keep slight left to continue on CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
200 ft
·
7 sec
·
CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
19
Turn left onto Burlington Road
3.6 mi
·
6 min
·
Burlington Road
20
Continue on Washington Road
3.3 mi
·
7 min
·
Washington Road
21
Turn right onto Sheridan Road
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Sheridan Road
22
Turn left onto 54th Street
305 ft
·
12 sec
·
54th Street
23
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi
·
31 sec
·
8th Avenue
24
Turn right onto 56th Street
43 ft
·
1 sec
·
56th Street
25
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 123 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 54m 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 14m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 123 miles or 1h 54m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenosha, 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 246 miles and 3h 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.
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 123 mi from La Crosse, WI · 1h 54m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
123 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 123 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Kenosha, WI
The final approach into Kenosha, 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 Kenosha, 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
$37.36 one way
$74.73 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
86 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $41.19 | $82.38 |
| premium | $4.80 | $46.44 | $92.88 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $54.65 | $109.31 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 86.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 73.8 | 0 | $25.83 | $11.81 |
| Efficient EV | 61.5 | 0 | $21.53 | $9.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 98.4 | 1 | $34.44 | $15.74 |
Gas CO2
86 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Kenosha, WI
Afternoon in Kenosha on Sunday
Local time
1:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
8 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
3h 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 Kenosha, WI covers 246 miles and takes about 3h 49m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Main Street, Losey Boulevard North, I 94. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 123 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 $37.36 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 49m 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 Kenosha, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Kenosha, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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