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Trip from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 56m

Distance

167.1 mi

269 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$26

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 34 min
4 AM
2h 45m ★
6 AM
2h 56m
8 AM
3h 19m
10 AM
3h 4m
12 PM
3h 2m
3 PM
3h 5m
5 PM
3h 18m
8 PM
2h 50m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 167.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on County Road MM, County Road EM, County Road E for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $26.12 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

83.6 miles from Lebanon, 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 2h 56m. Total distance: 167.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.

Scenic Drive

Turn-heavy local drive route profile.

Drive Character

Expect a 2h 56m drive with frequent turns across 167.1 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 28 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
County Road MM 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. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.

Driving Effort 1/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 2h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
County Road MM
County Road EM
County Road E
County Road M
County Road JM
Highway 26
WI 16 West
Highway 60

Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.

Longest stretch: County Road MM — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on South Street

0.1 mi · 16 sec · South Street
2

Continue on County Road MM

1.0 mi · 2 min · County Road MM
3

At the end of the road, turn right onto County Road EM

0.3 mi · 56 sec · County Road EM
4

Turn left onto County Road MM

2.0 mi · 4 min · County Road MM
5

At the end of the road, turn left onto County Road E

2.0 mi · 4 min · County Road E
6

Turn right onto County Road M

2.2 mi · 5 min · County Road M
7

Turn left onto County Road JM

1.3 mi · 3 min · County Road JM
8

Turn right onto State Highway 26

3.7 mi · 4 min · State Highway 26
9

Take the exit slight right toward WI 16 West, WI 60: ColumbusHustisford

0.3 mi · 50 sec · WI 16 West, WI 60: ColumbusHustisford
10

Turn left onto State Highway 60

0.1 mi · 15 sec · State Highway 60
11

Continue on Highway 16 & 60

14 mi · 18 min · Highway 16 & 60
12

Continue on Lowell Street

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Lowell Street
13

Continue on East James Street

1.7 mi · 4 min · East James Street
14

Continue on State Highway 16

23 mi · 31 min · State Highway 16
15

Turn straight onto US Highway 51 & State Highway 16

2.7 mi · 4 min · US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
16

Continue on East Wisconsin Street

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Wisconsin Street
17

Turn left onto West Cook Street

3.7 mi · 5 min · West Cook Street
18

Take the ramp slight right

0.4 mi · 50 sec
19

Merge slight left

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min
20

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

39 mi · 41 min · I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
21

Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

0.3 mi · 42 sec · WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
22

At the end of the road, turn left

4.9 mi · 8 min
23

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
24

Turn right onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
25

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
26

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
27

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South

325 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
28

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 83.6 miles from Lebanon, WI, or about 1h 28m 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 37 miles or 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 83.6 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 24m

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 Lebanon, 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 Lebanon, WI

This is one driving day of about 167.1 miles and 2h 56m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 miles from Lebanon, 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 83.6 mi from Lebanon, WI · 1h 28m 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

84 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.

Popular next leg

Lake Wisconsin, WI to La Crosse, WI

125.8 mi · 2h 31m

Pacing Suggestions

Pardeeville, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Wisconsin, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 83.6 miles from Lebanon, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$26.12 one way

$52.25 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 59 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $28.68 $57.37
premium $4.89 $32.16 $64.31
diesel $5.61 $36.89 $73.79

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$26

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$51–$76

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 58.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 50.1 0 $17.55 $8.02
Efficient EV 41.8 0 $14.62 $6.68
EV Truck/SUV 66.8 0 $23.39 $10.69

Gas CO2

58 kg

EV CO2

20 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 15, 2026

Origin

Lebanon, WI

Late night in Lebanon on Saturday

Local time

3:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Late night in La Crosse on Saturday

Local time

3:00 AM

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

20 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

2h 56m 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 Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 167.1 miles and takes about 2h 56m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are County Road MM, County Road EM, County Road E. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 83.6 miles from Lebanon, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $26.12 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

The drive from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 2h 56m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

The route from Lebanon, WI to La Crosse, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

La Crosse, WI to Lebanon, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

181.7 mi 3h 38m

Explore more options from Lebanon, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.