Origin
Portland, WI
Evening in Portland on Friday
Local time
5:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Portland, WI to La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
35m
Distance
23.2 mi
37 km
Drive Score
5/10
Practical drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 33m
★
6 AM
0h 36m
8 AM
0h 42m
10 AM
0h 38m
12 PM
0h 37m
3 PM
0h 38m
5 PM
0h 42m
8 PM
0h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Portland, WI
Brett Sayles
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 23.2-mile drive from Portland to La Crosse, Wisconsin, is easily accomplished in about 35 minutes, making it an ideal short trip or an easy add-on to a longer journey. With 96% of the route on highways, you'll experience a focused driving experience with a minimal fuel cost estimated at $4. This route is perfect for a single-day excursion, requiring no overnight stays. You'll be traveling within the Midwest region of Wisconsin for the entirety of this trip.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 35m. Total distance: 23.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
35m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for the vast majority of this trip, with 96% of the journey utilizing main roads like State Highway 33, Adams Street, and West Avenue South. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 22.3 miles, primarily on State Highway 33, suggesting a consistent pace for a significant portion of your travel. This profile indicates a drive that prioritizes efficiency over varied scenery, likely offering a smooth and direct path.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 5 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 33 is the longest continuous segment at about 22.3 miles.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,373 ft
658 ft
Total Climb
106 ft
Total Descent
747 ft
Highest Point
1,373 ft
~3.3 mi in
Elevation Range
715 ft
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 33 and Adams Street. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33.
Driving Effort
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Portland, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 35m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33): Navigation decision point; at 23.1 miles (WI 35 / West Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
2 of 2 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33
Turn left onto WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33
Navigation decision point
4
23.1 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
Turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 33 | 22.3 mi | 32m |
| Adams Street | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue South | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| County Highway X | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 33
— 22.3 mi, about 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Portland, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on CTH X
151 ft
·
11 sec
·
County Highway X
2
Turn left onto WI 33; CTH X
22 mi
·
32 min
·
State Highway 33
3
Turn slight left onto Adams Street
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Adams Street
4
Turn right onto WI 35
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
West Avenue South
5
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.63 one way
$7.25 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.98 | $7.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.46 | $8.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.12 | $10.24 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7 | 0 | $2.44 | $1.11 |
| Efficient EV | 5.8 | 0 | $2.03 | $0.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.48 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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
Evening in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
5:07 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
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
35m 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 Portland, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 23.2 miles and takes about 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 33, Adams Street, West Avenue South. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 11.6 miles from Portland, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $3.63 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.
The drive from Portland, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 35m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 33; CTH X / State Highway 33): Navigation decision point; at 23.1 miles (WI 35 / West Avenue South): Navigation decision point.
The route from Portland, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Mostly flat terrain. The route ranges from 658 ft to 1,373 ft elevation with about 106 ft of total climbing.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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