The drive from Lac du Flambeau, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 224.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Oneida Street, I 90, State Highway 173 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mixed drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 71.1 miles on Oneida Street.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.05 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
112.1 miles from Lac du Flambeau, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 59m. Total distance: 224.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
Scenic Drive
Mixed drive route profile with national parks nearby.
Drive Character
The drive from Lac du Flambeau, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 224.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
Expect a mix of faster highway mileage and slower local approaches near the beginning or end.
There are about 43 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Oneida Street is the longest continuous segment at about 71.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 85 miles in near I 39; US 51.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 224.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 85 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.8 miles (WI 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 26 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
85 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|I 39; US 51
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51 toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point,...
6
97.5 mi into trip|~2h 5m in
Take the exit toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 175
Toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
6
111.8 mi into trip|~2h 25m in|WI 34
Take the exit onto WI 34 toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 204
Toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapid...
6
177.9 mi into trip|~4h 1m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 147
Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
6
216.7 mi into trip|~4h 43m in
Take the exit toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Lac du Flambeau, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Wisconsin Rapids and Albert Lea.
Madison
85 mi in|~1h 52m|via I 39; US 51
Wisconsin Rapids
97.5 mi in|~2h 5m
Albert Lea
177.9 mi in|~4h 1m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Oneida Street
71.1 mi
1h 29m
I 90
38.1 mi
40m
State Highway 173
34 mi
49m
Victory Road
15.2 mi
22m
I 39
12.5 mi
13m
State Highway 47
10.8 mi
16m
State Highway 34
9.9 mi
13m
WI 16
4.9 mi
8m
Longest stretch:
Oneida Street
— 71.1 mi, about 1h 29m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lac du Flambeau, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Simpson Avenue
38 ft·2 sec·Simpson Avenue
2
Turn right onto CTH D
0.3 mi·38 sec·Waswagon Street
3
At end of road, turn right onto WI 47; CTH D
0.6 mi·50 sec·Old Abe Road
4
Continue on WI 47
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 47
5
Continue on WI 47
0.4 mi·41 sec·1st Avenue
6
Turn right onto US 51; WI 70
1.8 mi·4 min·Elm Street
Use the right lane.
7
Continue on US 51
71 mi·1 hr 29 min·Oneida Street
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51
13 mi·13 min·I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·38 sec
Exit 175Toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
10
Keep slight right at fork
199 ft·6 sec
11
Turn straight onto WI 34
0.2 mi·16 sec·State Highway 34
12
Enter roundabout onto WI 34; CTH C
123 ft·2 sec·State Highway 34
13
Continue on WI 34; CTH C
9.7 mi·13 min·State Highway 34
14
Take the ramp onto WI 34
0.2 mi·30 sec·WI 34
15
Merge onto US 10; WI 34
3.8 mi·4 min·US Highway 10
16
Take the exit onto WI 34
0.3 mi·49 sec·WI 34
Exit 204Toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
17
Turn left onto WI 13; WI 34
15 mi·22 min·Victory Road
18
Turn right onto WI 54; WI 73
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue South
19
Enter roundabout onto WI 54; WI 73
185 ft·3 sec·2nd Avenue South
20
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
1.3 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue South
21
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
1.6 mi·2 min·Wisconsin River Drive
22
Turn right onto WI 54; WI 73
1.4 mi·2 min·Letendre Avenue
23
Continue on WI 54
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 54
24
Turn left onto CTH G
2.0 mi·3 min·County Highway G
25
Continue on State Highway 173
9.1 mi·13 min·State Highway 173
26
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173
410 ft·7 sec·State Highway 80
27
Continue on WI 80; WI 173
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 173
28
Continue on WI 173
24 mi·33 min·State Highway 173
29
Turn right onto WI 21
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 21
30
Continue on WI 21
0.3 mi·33 sec·East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
31
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi·12 sec·State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
32
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
33
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi·2 min·I 94
34
Take the exit
0.7 mi·51 sec
Exit 147Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
35
Merge onto I 90
38 mi·40 min·I 90
36
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
37
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
38
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
39
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
40
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
41
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
42
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
43
Arrive at destination
WI 35
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 112.1 miles from Lac du Flambeau, WI, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 71.1 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 49 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.1 miles or 2h 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 4h 8m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Lac du Flambeau, 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 Lac du Flambeau, WI
This is one driving day of about 224.2 miles and 4h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Lac du Flambeau, 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 Oneida Street for about 71.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 112.1 mi from Lac du Flambeau, WI
· 2h 25m into the drive
The midpoint is around 112.1 miles from Lac du Flambeau, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before Oneida Street if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 71.1 miles.
Arriving in La Crosse, WI
The final approach into La Crosse, 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 La Crosse, WI.
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
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...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 131.5
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$35.05 one way
$70.10 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg78 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$38.48
$76.97
premium
$4.89
$43.15
$86.29
diesel
$5.61
$49.50
$99.00
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 78.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
67.3
0
$23.54
$10.76
Efficient EV
56.1
0
$19.62
$8.97
EV Truck/SUV
89.7
1
$31.39
$14.35
Gas CO2
78 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Lac du Flambeau, WI
Evening
in Lac du Flambeau on Thursday
Local time
6:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Evening
in La Crosse on Thursday
Local time
6:06 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
7 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
4h 59m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Lac du Flambeau, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 224.2 miles and takes about 4h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Oneida Street, I 90, State Highway 173. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 112.1 miles from Lac du Flambeau, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.05 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a demanding drive. With 26 significant decision points across 224.2 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 85 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 97.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 111.8 miles (WI 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Lac du Flambeau, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Wisconsin Rapids and Albert Lea.
