Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
9:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Ladysmith, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 26m
Distance
136.8 mi
220 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 15m
★
6 AM
3h 27m
8 AM
3h 51m
10 AM
3h 35m
12 PM
3h 33m
3 PM
3h 37m
5 PM
3h 50m
8 PM
3h 20m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Ladysmith, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Ladysmith, WI covers 136.8 miles and takes about 3h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 27, South Main Street, WI 157 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 55.2 miles on State Highway 27. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.39 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
68.4 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 26m. Total distance: 136.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 26m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (65%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 26m highway drive covering 136.8 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 27 and South Main Street. The longest continuous stretch is about 55.2 miles on State Highway 27.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 27 is the longest continuous segment at about 55.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 27 and South Main Street. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Losey Boulevard North.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 26m 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 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 49 miles (US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.5 miles (US 12; WI 27): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Losey Boulevard North
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
Navigation decision point
4
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
4
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
4
78.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 58m in
|
WI 27 / State Highway 27
Turn left onto WI 27 / State Highway 27
Navigation decision point
4
136.8 mi into trip
|
~3h 26m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 27 | 55.2 mi | 1h 21m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 27
— 55.2 mi, about 1h 21m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Ladysmith, 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
24 mi
·
34 min
·
South Main Street
11
Continue on US 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ervin Street
12
Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Main Street
13
Continue on US 53
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 53
14
Continue on US 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Harmony Street
15
Turn right onto US 10
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
10th Street
16
Continue on US 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 10
17
Turn left onto CTH R
0.5 mi
·
53 sec
·
County Road R
18
Continue on CTH R
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
County Highway R
19
At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
US 12; WI 27
20
Turn left onto WI 27
35 mi
·
51 min
·
State Highway 27
21
Continue on WI 27
0.6 mi
·
50 sec
·
South 3rd Street
22
Turn right onto WI 27; WI 64
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Bridge Street
23
Continue on WI 27; WI 64
21 mi
·
30 min
·
State Highway 27
24
Continue on WI 27
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
West 9th Street South
25
Turn right onto Miner Avenue West
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Miner Avenue West
26
Turn right
443 ft
·
33 sec
27
Turn right
36 ft
·
2 sec
28
Arrive at 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 68.4 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 40m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.2 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 30 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.4 miles or 1h 40m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 48m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladysmith, 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 136.8 miles and 3h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 State Highway 27 for about 55.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 68.4 mi from La Crosse, WI · 1h 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
68 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
Arriving in Ladysmith, WI
The final approach into Ladysmith, 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 Ladysmith, 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
$21.39 one way
$42.77 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
48 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.48 | $46.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.33 | $52.65 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.20 | $60.41 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 47.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41 | 0 | $14.36 | $6.57 |
| Efficient EV | 34.2 | 0 | $11.97 | $5.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.7 | 0 | $19.15 | $8.76 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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
Ladysmith, WI
Morning in Ladysmith on Friday
Local time
9:52 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
42°F
Hale, WI
68 mi in
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
3h 26m 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 Ladysmith, WI covers 136.8 miles and takes about 3h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 27, South Main Street, WI 157. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68.4 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 $21.39 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 26m 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 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 49 miles (US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.5 miles (US 12; WI 27): Navigation decision point.
The route from La Crosse, WI to Ladysmith, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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