Origin
Prairie du Sac, WI
Afternoon in Prairie du Sac on Saturday
Local time
2:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Prairie du Sac, WI to La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 18m
Distance
115.4 mi
186 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 9m
★
6 AM
2h 19m
8 AM
2h 38m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 37m
8 PM
2h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Prairie du Sac, WI
Tom Fisk
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Prairie du Sac, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 115.4 miles and takes about 2h 18m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, US Highway 12, WI 16 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 86.1 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.04 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.
Midpoint
57.7 miles from Prairie du Sac, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 86.1 mi | 1h 32m |
| US Highway 12 | 18 mi | 22m |
| WI 16 | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| County Highway Z | 1 mi | 1m |
| State Highway 78 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Water Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 86.1 mi, about 1h 32m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Prairie du Sac, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on 4th Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
4th Street
2
At end of road, turn right onto CTH PF
284 ft
·
15 sec
·
Prairie Street
3
Turn left onto WI 78; US 12 Business
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Water Street
4
Continue on WI 78; US 12 Business
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 78
5
Turn left onto CTH Z; US 12 Business
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway Z
6
Take the ramp onto US 12 Business
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Business US 12
Toward US 12 North
7
Merge onto US 12
18 mi
·
22 min
·
US Highway 12
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Claire
9
Merge onto I 90; I 94
47 mi
·
50 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 57.7 miles from Prairie du Sac, WI, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 86.1 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 miles or 1h 9m 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 48m
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 Prairie du Sac, 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 Prairie du Sac, WI
This is one driving day of about 115.4 miles and 2h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Prairie du Sac, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 86.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.7 miles from Prairie du Sac, 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 86.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 115.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.4 mi into trip
|
~1m in
|
CTH PF / Prairie Street
At end of road, turn right onto CTH PF / Prairie Street
Navigation decision point
5
21.4 mi into trip
|
~29m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Claire
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Cla...
7
68.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 20m 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
107.8 mi into trip
|
~2h 2m 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
5
115.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 18m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.04 one way
$36.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.81 | $39.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.21 | $44.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.48 | $50.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.12 | $5.54 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.10 | $4.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.16 | $7.39 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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
Afternoon in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
2:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph
38% chance
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
12 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 18m 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.
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 35.8
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
115.4 mi in 2h 18m, mostly highway — 86.1 mi of that is on I 90.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 86.1 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US Highway 12. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near CTH PF / Prairie Street.
Driving Effort
5/10
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 115.4 miles you will encounter 14 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: at 0.4 miles (CTH PF / Prairie Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Prairie du Sac, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Onalaska.
Eau Claire
21.4 mi in
|
~29m
Onalaska
107.8 mi in
|
~2h 2m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 18m. Total distance: 115.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 86.1 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (CTH PF / Prairie Street): Navigation decision point; at 21.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 68.7 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at La Crosse, WI before heading back.
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.
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