This 124.2-mile drive from Redgranite to La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a manageable one-day adventure, taking approximately 2 hours and 52 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $19, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes I-90, making it a highway-focused journey. You'll find this drive to be straightforward and efficient, perfect for a quick trip between these two Wisconsin locations. The relatively short duration means you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stop.
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
62.1 miles from Redgranite, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 124.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (62%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
Expect a highway-focused drive for most of this 124.2-mile trip, with 62% of your journey on interstate roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 38.1 miles on I-90, offering consistent speed and minimal interruptions. While primarily interstate, the route also incorporates State Highway 21 and East Follett Drive, providing some variation from the high-speed travel. This mix means you'll experience both efficient highway cruising and slightly more local road conditions as you approach your destination.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 26 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 38.1 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 21. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 10.2 miles in near South Fair Street.
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 124.2 miles you will encounter 13 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 10.2 miles (South Fair Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
10.2 mi into trip|~18m in|South Fair Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Fair Street
Navigation decision point
6
77.8 mi into trip|~1h 55m in
Take the exit toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 147
Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
6
116.7 mi into trip|~2h 36m 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
4
122.3 mi into trip|~2h 47m in|CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
124.1 mi into trip|~2h 52m 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.
Between Redgranite, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Albert Lea and Onalaska.
Albert Lea
77.8 mi in|~1h 55m
Onalaska
116.7 mi in|~2h 36m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
38.1 mi
40m
State Highway 21
31.3 mi
44m
East Follett Drive
28.9 mi
40m
East 3rd Street
10.9 mi
15m
WI 16
4.9 mi
8m
I 94
2.8 mi
2m
East Division Street
0.9 mi
3m
Bannerman Avenue
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 38.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Redgranite, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Main Street
102 ft·6 sec·Main Street
2
Turn right onto WI 21; CTH E
0.9 mi·2 min·Bannerman Avenue
3
Continue on WI 21; CTH EE
7.8 mi·11 min·State Highway 21
4
Continue on WI 21; WI 73
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
5
Turn left onto East Division Street
0.9 mi·3 min·East Division Street
6
At end of road, turn left onto South Fair Street
17 ft·2 sec·South Fair Street
7
Turn right onto West Division Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Division Street
8
Continue on WI 21
12 mi·16 min·State Highway 21
9
Continue on WI 21
0.5 mi·49 sec·Wautoma Road
10
Continue on WI 21
29 mi·40 min·East Follett Drive
11
Continue on WI 21
11 mi·15 min·East 3rd Street
12
Continue on WI 21; CTH H
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 21
13
Continue on WI 21
0.3 mi·33 sec·East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
14
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi·12 sec·State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi·2 min·I 94
17
Take the exit
0.7 mi·51 sec
Exit 147Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
18
Merge onto I 90
38 mi·40 min·I 90
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
20
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
21
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
22
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
23
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
24
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
25
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
26
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour 52-minute duration, this trip is ideal for a single day, allowing for flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to factor in one stop for fuel or a break, as the longest uninterrupted stretch is 38.1 miles on I-90. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you transition from I-90 to the state highways. The estimated fuel cost is around $19, so planning for this expense is straightforward. A midday departure could offer pleasant driving conditions without peak traffic.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 62.1 miles from Redgranite, WI, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.1 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 27 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 62.1 miles or 1h 33m 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 20m
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 Redgranite, 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 Redgranite, WI
This is one driving day of about 124.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Redgranite, 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 38.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 62.1 mi from Redgranite, WI
· 1h 33m into the drive
The midpoint is around 62.1 miles from Redgranite, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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...
2 mi from route
~6 min detour
Free
near mile 25.7
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.42 one way
$38.83 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg44 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.32
$42.64
premium
$4.89
$23.90
$47.80
diesel
$5.61
$27.42
$54.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
37.3
0
$13.04
$5.96
Efficient EV
31.1
0
$10.87
$4.97
EV Truck/SUV
49.7
0
$17.39
$7.95
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
15 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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
Redgranite, WI
Evening
in Redgranite on Thursday
Local time
5:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Evening
in La Crosse on Thursday
Local time
5:28 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
2h 52m 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 Redgranite, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 124.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, State Highway 21, East Follett Drive. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 62.1 miles from Redgranite, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.42 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.
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 124.2 miles you will encounter 13 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: at 10.2 miles (South Fair Street): Navigation decision point; at 77.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Redgranite, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Albert Lea and Onalaska.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
