The drive from New Richmond, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 139.8 miles and takes about 3h 12m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Route 61, State Highway 65, US 14 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.1 miles on Route 61.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.86 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
69.9 miles from New Richmond, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 42m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 12m. Total distance: 139.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 12m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 12m highway drive covering 139.8 miles, with most of the trip on Route 61 and State Highway 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 46.1 miles on Route 61.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 41 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Route 61 is the longest continuous segment at about 46.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 61 and State Highway 65. You will hit about 18 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 65 / South Knowles Avenue.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.8 miles you will encounter 18 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: near the start (WI 65 / South Knowles Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.4 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 18 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WI 65 / South Knowles Avenue
Turn left onto WI 65 / South Knowles Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
12.3 mi into trip|~19m in|WI 65 / State Highway 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65 toward River Falls
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward River Falls
6
12.4 mi into trip|~19m in|WI 65 / State Highway 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65 toward River Falls
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward River Falls
5
20.1 mi into trip|~30m in|WI 65
Turn left onto WI 65
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
5
23 mi into trip|~34m in|WI 65 / State Highway 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 New Richmond, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward River Falls along the way.
River Falls
12.3 mi in|~19m|via WI 65
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Route 61
46.1 mi
58m
State Highway 65
26.9 mi
38m
US 14
25.1 mi
30m
Route 61/Route 63
14.8 mi
19m
US 63
12.1 mi
18m
WI 65
3.4 mi
4m
North Lakeshore Drive
2.8 mi
5m
North Maple Street
1.7 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
Route 61
— 46.1 mi, about 58m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Richmond, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on CTH K
259 ft·12 sec·East 1st Street
2
Turn left onto WI 65
1.3 mi·3 min·South Knowles Avenue
Use the straight lane.
3
Continue on WI 65
1.7 mi·2 min·State Highway 65
4
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
127 ft·2 sec·State Highway 65
5
Continue on WI 65
5.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 65
6
Turn slight right onto WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·WI 65
Use the straight / left lanes.
7
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
231 ft·13 sec·State Highway 65
8
Continue on WI 65
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
110 ft·6 sec·State Highway 65
10
Continue on WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
11
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi·15 sec·State Highway 65
12
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
94 ft·5 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
13
Continue on WI 65
0.1 mi·16 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
14
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
108 ft·6 sec·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
15
Continue on WI 65
7.6 mi·10 min·State Highway 65
Toward River Falls
16
Turn left onto WI 65
2.3 mi·3 min·WI 65
Use the straight lane.
17
Continue on WI 29; WI 35; WI 65
0.5 mi·46 sec·State Highway 29/35/65
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Continue on WI 29; WI 35; WI 65
0.1 mi·9 sec·State Highway 65
19
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
134 ft·7 sec·State Highway 65
20
Continue on WI 65
9.1 mi·12 min·State Highway 65
21
Continue on WI 65
1.7 mi·3 min·North Maple Street
22
Turn right onto US 10; US 63
1.6 mi·2 min·West Main Street
23
Turn left onto US 63
12 mi·18 min·US 63
Use the straight lane.
24
Turn right onto US 61; US 63
15 mi·19 min·Route 61/Route 63
Use the right lane.
25
Continue on US 61; US 63
2.8 mi·5 min·North Lakeshore Drive
26
Continue on US 61
9.5 mi·13 min·Route 61
27
Continue on US 61
0.2 mi·17 sec·2nd Street
28
Continue on US 61
37 mi·45 min·Route 61
Use the straight lane.
29
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61
162 ft·2 sec·US 14;US 61
30
Continue on US 14; US 61
0.2 mi·11 sec·US 14;US 61
31
Continue on US 14; US 61
12 mi·14 min·US 14; US 61
Use the straight lane.
32
Continue on US 14; US 61
8.5 mi·9 min·US 14; US 61
33
Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61
2.9 mi·4 min·US 14; US 61
34
Turn left onto US 14; US 61; MN 16
1.7 mi·2 min·Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
35
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 16
1.3 mi·2 min·US 14; US 61; WI 16
36
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·20 sec
37
Merge onto US 14; US 61
0.4 mi·1 min·3rd Street South
38
Continue on US 14; US 61
0.2 mi·24 sec·South Avenue
39
Turn left onto Adams Street
0.6 mi·1 min·Adams Street
40
Turn left onto WI 35
0.1 mi·23 sec·West Avenue South
41
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 69.9 miles from New Richmond, WI, or about 1h 42m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.1 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 31 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.9 miles or 1h 42m 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 38m
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 New Richmond, 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 New Richmond, WI
This is one driving day of about 139.8 miles and 3h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from New Richmond, 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 Route 61 for about 46.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 69.9 mi from New Richmond, WI
· 1h 42m into the drive
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.9
0
$14.68
$6.71
Efficient EV
35
0
$12.23
$5.59
EV Truck/SUV
55.9
0
$19.57
$8.95
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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 13, 2026
Origin
New Richmond, WI
Morning
in New Richmond on Saturday
Local time
8:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
50°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
NE 0 to 5 mph67% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 6:46PM CDT until April 13 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 6:44PM CDT until April 13 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
8:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 3 to 9 mph71% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 6:46PM CDT until April 13 at 7:15PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 13 at 6:44PM CDT until April 13 at 7:30PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
46°F
Lima, WI
70 mi in
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
7 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 12m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from New Richmond, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 139.8 miles and takes about 3h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Route 61, State Highway 65, US 14. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.9 miles from New Richmond, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.86 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 drive requires moderate attention. Across 139.8 miles you will encounter 18 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 65 / South Knowles Avenue): Lane positioning matters here; at 12.3 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.4 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from New Richmond, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward River Falls along the way.
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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
