Trip from Lemonweir, WI to La Crosse, WI

Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026

Drive Time

1h 28m

Distance

73.1 mi

118 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 20 min

4 AM

1h 22m ★

6 AM

1h 29m

8 AM

1h 42m

10 AM

1h 33m

12 PM

1h 32m

3 PM

1h 34m

5 PM

1h 42m

8 PM

1h 25m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Trip Overview

This 73.1-mile drive from Lemonweir, WI to La Crosse, WI takes about 1 hour and 28 minutes, making it a perfect day trip. You'll spend most of your time on the interstate, with 95% of the route being highway driving. The estimated fuel cost is a very manageable $11, so you won't need to budget much for gas. This is a straightforward, highway-focused journey through the Midwest, ideal for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Given its short duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day without needing an overnight stop.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

36.6 miles from Lemonweir, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 41m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused experience for the majority of this 73.1-mile trip. You'll be on I 90 for the longest continuous stretch of 62.7 miles, which forms the backbone of this route. While primarily interstate, you'll also navigate sections of WI 16 and State Highway 82. This means you'll experience the efficiency of high-speed travel for most of the journey, with brief transitions onto other state highways. The profile is predominantly that of a fast-paced, direct drive designed for covering ground.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 14 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 62.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WI 16. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.5 miles in.

Route Complexity 5/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.1 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 26.5 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 65.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

4

2.5 mi into trip | ~4m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

7

26.5 mi into trip | ~30m in | I 90

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

6

65.6 mi into trip | ~1h 12m 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

4

71.3 mi into trip | ~1h 23m in | CTH F / Main Street

Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street

Navigation decision point

5

73.1 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in | WI 35 / West Avenue South

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South

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 Lemonweir, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.

Onalaska

65.6 mi in | ~1h 12m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	62.7 mi	1h 7m
WI 16	4.9 mi	8m
State Highway 82	1.7 mi	2m
19th Avenue	0.8 mi	2m
16th Street South	0.8 mi	2m
Main Street	0.7 mi	1m
Losey Boulevard North	0.5 mi	1m
Johnson Street	0.3 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 62.7 mi, about 1h 7m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on 19th Avenue

0.8 mi · 2 min · 19th Avenue

2

Turn left onto WI 82

1.7 mi · 2 min · State Highway 82

3

Keep slight right at fork

278 ft · 5 sec

4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 42 sec

5

Merge onto I 90; I 94

24 mi · 25 min · I 90; I 94

6

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

7

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

8

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16

9

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

10

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street

11

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South

12

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street

13

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South

14

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Trip Plan

With a total travel time of under 1.5 hours, this route offers great flexibility. You can depart whenever suits your schedule, as there's no need to break up the 73.1 miles. Consider leaving earlier in the day to maximize your time at your destination in La Crosse. While the longest stretch on I 90 is 62.7 miles, it's wise to keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially if you're not familiar with the specific exit services along this section of the interstate. A quick fuel stop before you leave Lemonweir should be sufficient.

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.

You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.

The halfway point lands around 36.6 miles from Lemonweir, WI, or about 41m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.7 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 16 miles or 19m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 36.6 miles or 41m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 1h 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 Lemonweir, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Lemonweir, WI

This is one driving day of about 73.1 miles and 1h 28m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Lemonweir, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 62.7 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 36.6 mi from Lemonweir, WI · 41m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sparta, WI

37 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

New Lisbon, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tomah, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 36.6 miles from Lemonweir, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.7 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.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.43 one way

$22.86 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$12.55	$25.10
premium	$4.89	$14.07	$28.13
diesel	$5.61	$16.14	$32.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	21.9	$7.68	$3.51
Efficient EV	18.3	$6.40	$2.92
EV Truck/SUV	29.2	$10.23	$4.68

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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

Lemonweir, WI

Night in Lemonweir on Wednesday

Local time

11:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

69°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Night in La Crosse on Wednesday

Local time

11:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Sparta, WI

37 mi in

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

3 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

1h 28m 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 Lemonweir, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 73.1 miles and takes about 1h 28m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, WI 16, State Highway 82. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 36.6 miles from Lemonweir, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.43 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.