Origin
Mauston, WI
Night in Mauston on Wednesday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mauston, WI to La Crosse, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 26m
Distance
71.9 mi
116 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 20m
★
6 AM
1h 27m
8 AM
1h 40m
10 AM
1h 32m
12 PM
1h 30m
3 PM
1h 32m
5 PM
1h 40m
8 PM
1h 23m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mauston, WI
Tom Fisk
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Mauston, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, WI 16, State Highway 82 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 62.7 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.24 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
35.9 miles from Mauston, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 40m into the drive .
Drive Character
This is a 1h 26m highway drive covering 71.9 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and WI 16. The longest continuous stretch is about 62.7 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 18 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 12; WI 16 / East State Street.
Route Complexity
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 12; WI 16 / East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (WI 58; WI 82; CTH G / North Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (State Highway 82): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 11 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 12; WI 16 / East State Street
Turn right onto US 12; WI 16 / East State Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
WI 58; WI 82; CTH G / North Union Street
Turn left onto WI 58; WI 82; CTH G / North Union Street
Navigation decision point
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
State Highway 82
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 82
Navigation decision point
7
25.2 mi into trip
|
~28m 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
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 10m 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.
On the drive from Mauston, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.
Onalaska
64.3 mi in
|
~1h 10m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 62.7 mi | 1h 7m |
| WI 16 | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 82 | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| 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 |
| East State 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 Mauston, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Division Street
64 ft
·
8 sec
·
Division Street
2
Turn right onto US 12; WI 16
0.3 mi
·
58 sec
·
East State Street
3
Turn left onto WI 58; WI 82; CTH G
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North Union Street
4
Turn right onto WI 82
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 82
5
Continue on State Highway 82
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
State Highway 82
6
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 82
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Highway 82
7
Continue on State Highway 82
112 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 82
8
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
9
Merge onto I 90; I 94
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 90; I 94
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 90
Exit 45
Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
12
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
WI 16
13
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
14
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
15
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
16
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
17
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
18
Arrive at destination
WI 35
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 35.9 miles from Mauston, WI, or about 40m 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 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 35.9 miles or 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 1h 7m
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 Mauston, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Mauston, WI
This is one driving day of about 71.9 miles and 1h 26m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Mauston, 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 35.9 mi from Mauston, WI · 40m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
36 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 35.9 miles from Mauston, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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
$11.24 one way
$22.48 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
25 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.34 | $24.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $13.84 | $27.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $15.87 | $31.75 |
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: 25.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 21.6 | 0 | $7.55 | $3.45 |
| Efficient EV | 18 | 0 | $6.29 | $2.88 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.07 | $4.60 |
Gas CO2
25 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (68% 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Night in La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
11:45 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
21 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
1h 26m 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 Mauston, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 71.9 miles and takes about 1h 26m 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 35.9 miles from Mauston, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.24 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.
This is a straightforward 1h 26m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 12; WI 16 / East State Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (WI 58; WI 82; CTH G / North Union Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.3 miles (State Highway 82): Navigation decision point.
On the drive from Mauston, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.
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