Trip from Lowell, WI to La Crosse, 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

Save up to 35 min

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.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Lowell, WI to La Crosse, 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 99.3 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 Lowell, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 40m 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 (93%). 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 99.3 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 21 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 99.3 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 0.1 miles in near CTH KW / South Street.

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 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CTH KW / South Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (WI 16; WI 60 / Highway 16 & 60): Navigation decision point; at 103.8 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.

0.1 mi into trip | ~0m in | CTH KW / South Street

Turn left onto CTH KW / South Street

Navigation decision point

0.9 mi into trip | ~2m in | WI 16; WI 60 / Highway 16 & 60

Turn right onto WI 16; WI 60 / Highway 16 & 60

Navigation decision point

103.8 mi into trip | ~2h 10m 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

142.9 mi into trip | ~2h 52m 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

150.4 mi into trip | ~3h 8m 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 Lowell, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.

Onalaska

142.9 mi in | ~2h 52m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	99.3 mi	1h 46m
State Highway 16	22.7 mi	31m
Highway 16 & 60	9.7 mi	13m
WI 16	4.9 mi	8m
West Cook Street	3.7 mi	5m
US Highway 51 & State Highway 16	2.7 mi	4m
East James Street	1.7 mi	4m
East Wisconsin Street	1.6 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 99.3 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on CTH G; CTH I

313 ft · 10 sec · Beaver Dam Road

Continue on CTH G; CTH I; CTH KW

441 ft · 17 sec · Beaver Dam Road

Turn left onto CTH KW

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Street

Turn right onto WI 16; WI 60

9.7 mi · 13 min · Highway 16 & 60

Continue on WI 16; WI 60

0.3 mi · 42 sec · Lowell Street

Continue on WI 16; WI 60

1.7 mi · 4 min · East James Street

Continue on WI 16

23 mi · 31 min · State Highway 16

Turn straight onto US 51; WI 16

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

Continue on US 51; WI 16

1.6 mi · 3 min · East Wisconsin Street

Turn left onto WI 33

3.7 mi · 5 min · West Cook Street

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec

Merge onto I 90; I 94

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec

Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South

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 75.2 miles from Lowell, WI, or about 1h 40m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 49m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 75.2 miles or 1h 40m 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 31m

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 Lowell, 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 Lowell, WI

This is one driving day of about 150.5 miles and 3h 8m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 miles from Lowell, 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 99.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 75.2 mi from Lowell, WI · 1h 40m 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

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.

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 33 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Delton, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 75.2 miles from Lowell, 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 99.3 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...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 67.5

Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River

Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

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	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	45.2	$15.80	$7.22
Efficient EV	37.6	$13.17	$6.02
EV Truck/SUV	60.2	$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.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Lowell, WI

Afternoon in Lowell on Thursday

Local time

2:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Thursday

Local time

2:51 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

24 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

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 Lowell, WI to La Crosse, 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 Lowell, 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 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

On the drive from Lowell, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.

Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.

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