Origin
La Crosse, WI
Evening in La Crosse on Thursday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Lowell, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
3h 8m
Distance
150.5 mi
242 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$24
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 57m
★
6 AM
3h 9m
8 AM
3h 32m
10 AM
3h 17m
12 PM
3h 15m
3 PM
3h 18m
5 PM
3h 31m
8 PM
3h 2m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Lowell, WI covers 150.5 miles and takes about 3h 8m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, State Highway 16, Highway 16 & 60 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 99.6 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $23.53 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
75.2 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 28m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 8m. Total distance: 150.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 8m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 8m highway drive covering 150.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and State Highway 16. The longest continuous stretch is about 99.6 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 20 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 99.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 16. 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 8m drive. You will face about 8 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 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 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
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.
6
106.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106
Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
5
106.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
115.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 16m in
|
WI 16 / State Highway 16
Turn left onto WI 16 / State Highway 16
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Crosse, WI to Lowell, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Baraboo along the way.
Baraboo
106.7 mi in
|
~2h 1m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| State Highway 16 | 22.6 mi | 31m |
| Highway 16 & 60 | 9.5 mi | 13m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| WI 33 | 4 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 51 & State Highway 16 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| James Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| West Wisconsin Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Lowell, 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
100 mi
·
1 hr 46 min
·
I 90
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 106
Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
9
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft
·
4 sec
10
Turn straight onto WI 33
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
WI 33
11
Turn right onto US 51; WI 16
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Wisconsin Street
12
Continue on US 51; WI 16
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
13
Turn left onto WI 16
23 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 16
14
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
James Street
15
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Manning Street
16
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Highway 16 & 60
17
Turn left onto CTH KW
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South Street
18
Turn right onto CTH G; CTH I; CTH KW
441 ft
·
17 sec
·
Beaver Dam Road
19
Continue on CTH G; CTH I
313 ft
·
8 sec
·
Beaver Dam Road
20
Arrive at destination
CTH G; CTH I
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 75.2 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.2 miles or 1h 28m 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 27m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lowell, 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 150.5 miles and 3h 8m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 75.2 mi from La Crosse, WI · 1h 28m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
75 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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 75.2 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.6 miles.
Arriving in Lowell, WI
The final approach into Lowell, 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 Lowell, 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
$23.53 one way
$47.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
53 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $25.83 | $51.67 |
| premium | $4.89 | $28.96 | $57.92 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $33.23 | $66.46 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 52.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 45.2 | 0 | $15.80 | $7.22 |
| Efficient EV | 37.6 | 0 | $13.17 | $6.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 60.2 | 0 | $21.07 | $9.63 |
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Destination
Lowell, WI
Evening in Lowell on Thursday
Local time
8:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
24 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 8m 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 Lowell, WI covers 150.5 miles and takes about 3h 8m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, State Highway 16, Highway 16 & 60. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 75.2 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 $23.53 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 8m drive. You will face about 8 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 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from La Crosse, WI to Lowell, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Baraboo along the way.
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