The drive from Little Suamico, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 220.5 miles and takes about 4h 42m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, I 41, US 41 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.7 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.47 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
110.2 miles from Little Suamico, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 20m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
62.7 mi
1h 7m
I 41
34.2 mi
37m
US 41
31.4 mi
33m
State Highway 82
28.1 mi
41m
State Highway 23
25.2 mi
36m
State Highway 44
14.8 mi
21m
WI 16
4.9 mi
8m
State Highway 23 & 49
3.7 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 62.7 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Little Suamico, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on CTH J
0.3 mi·42 sec·County Road J
2
Turn left onto CTH S
2.1 mi·3 min·County Highway S
3
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward Appleton, Green Bay
4
Merge onto US 41; US 141
31 mi·33 min·US 41; US 141
5
Continue on I 41; US 41
34 mi·37 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·35 sec
Exit 116Toward WI 44, WI 91Use the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight right at fork
183 ft·4 sec
8
Turn right onto WI 44; WI 91
0.8 mi·1 min·Ripon Rd
9
Continue on WI 44
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 44
10
Continue on East Oshkosh Street
1.5 mi·4 min·East Oshkosh Street
11
Turn right onto WI 23; WI 49
1.4 mi·2 min·West Fond du Lac Street
12
Continue on WI 23; WI 49
3.7 mi·5 min·State Highway 23 & 49
13
Turn straight onto WI 23; CTH A
9.2 mi·12 min·State Highway 23
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on WI 23; WI 73
0.7 mi·1 min·South Fulton Street
15
Turn left onto WI 23; WI 73; CTH D; CTH J
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
16
Turn left
150 ft·2 sec
17
Continue on WI 23
0.5 mi·42 sec·South 2nd Street
18
Continue on State Highway 23
9.9 mi·14 min·State Highway 23
19
Continue on WI 23; CTH C
0.6 mi·57 sec·East Montello Street
20
Continue on WI 23; CTH C
0.1 mi·10 sec·West Montello Street
21
Turn slight right onto WI 23; CTH C
1.8 mi·2 min·Underwood Avenue
22
Continue on WI 23
6.1 mi·8 min·State Highway 23
23
Continue on WI 82
3.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 82
24
Continue on WI 82
1.1 mi·1 min·East Ormsby Street
25
Continue on WI 82
25 mi·36 min·State Highway 82
26
Keep slight right at fork
278 ft·5 sec
27
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·42 sec
28
Merge onto I 90; I 94
24 mi·25 min·I 90; I 94
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi·41 min·I 90
Exit 45Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
30
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
31
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
32
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
33
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
34
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
35
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
36
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
37
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 110.2 miles from Little Suamico, WI, or about 2h 20m 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 49 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 miles or 2h 20m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 52m
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 Little Suamico, 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 Little Suamico, WI
This is one driving day of about 220.5 miles and 4h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from Little Suamico, 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 62.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 2.4 and 213 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
2.4 mi into trip|~4m in
Turn left toward Appleton, Green Bay
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward Appleton, Green Bay
8
68.3 mi into trip|~1h 15m in
Take the exit toward WI 44, WI 91
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 116
Toward WI 44, WI 91
5
68.6 mi into trip|~1h 16m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
173.8 mi into trip|~3h 44m 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
213 mi into trip|~4h 26m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.47 one way
$68.95 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.85
$75.70
premium
$4.89
$42.43
$84.87
diesel
$5.61
$48.68
$97.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.15
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.87
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Little Suamico, WI
Afternoon
in Little Suamico on Saturday
Local time
1:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Afternoon
in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
1:34 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
23 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 42m 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.
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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 121.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
220.5 mi in 4h 42m, mostly highway — 62.7 mi of that is on I 90.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
37 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.7 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 41. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.4 miles in.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 17 significant decision points across 220.5 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 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 42m. Total distance: 220.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.7 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at La Crosse, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.4 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
