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Trip from Rhine, WI to La Crosse, WI

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

4h 17m

Distance

202.3 mi

326 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 4m ★
6 AM
4h 17m
8 AM
4h 44m
10 AM
4h 27m
12 PM
4h 24m
3 PM
4h 28m
5 PM
4h 42m
8 PM
4h 9m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown Rhine, WI, WI

Rhine, WI

Birgit Böllinger

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 202.3-mile journey from Rhine to La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a manageable one-day trip, estimated to take around 4 hours and 17 minutes. Primarily utilizing I-90, US-151, and State Highway 33, about 86% of this drive is on highways, making it a focused road trip experience. With a projected fuel cost of $32, it's an economical way to traverse the Midwest. This route offers a straightforward path through Wisconsin, ideal for those looking for an efficient drive without extensive detours.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

101.1 miles from Rhine, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 20m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of your trip, with 86% of the route on faster roads. You'll experience a significant stretch of 99.3 miles on I-90, offering a consistent pace for a substantial portion of your journey. While the primary roads are highways, the inclusion of US-151 and State Highway 33 may introduce some variation in the driving experience as you progress. This route generally keeps you moving, prioritizing efficient travel over winding, scenic byways.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 35 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 99.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 151. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in near CTH P / County Road P.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (CTH P / County Road P): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (WI 23 / State Highway 23): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

5
6 mi into trip | ~13m in | CTH P / County Road P

At end of road, turn left onto CTH P / County Road P

Navigation decision point

6
10.7 mi into trip | ~21m in | WI 23 / State Highway 23

Merge onto WI 23 / State Highway 23

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
27.6 mi into trip | ~41m in

Turn left

Lane positioning matters here

Use the left lane.
7
155.6 mi into trip | ~3h 19m 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
194.8 mi into trip | ~4h 1m 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

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 99.3 mi 1h 46m
US 151 27.6 mi 33m
State Highway 33 27.2 mi 39m
State Highway 23 15.7 mi 18m
County Road C 6 mi 8m
East Cook Street 4.9 mi 7m
WI 16 4.9 mi 8m
County Road A 2.4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 99.3 mi, about 1h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Rhine, WI and La Crosse, WI.

1

Start on CTH MM

221 ft · 12 sec · County Road MM
2

Turn left onto CTH E

2.1 mi · 5 min · Rhine Road
3

Turn right onto CTH A

2.2 mi · 3 min · County Road A
4

Continue on CTH A

0.6 mi · 1 min · East Rhine Street
5

Turn straight onto CTH J

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Gottfried Street
6

Turn left onto CTH JP

0.9 mi · 2 min · County Road JP
7

At end of road, turn left onto CTH P

1.3 mi · 1 min · County Road P
8

Continue on CTH A; CTH P

1.3 mi · 2 min · County Road A/P
9

At end of road, turn right onto CTH A

0.4 mi · 1 min · Main Street
10

Turn slight left onto CTH A

1.7 mi · 2 min · Clark Street
11

Take the ramp onto CTH A

156 ft · 4 sec · CTH A
12

Merge onto WI 23

16 mi · 18 min · State Highway 23
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on WI 23

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Johnson Street
14

Enter roundabout onto WI 23

148 ft · 8 sec · East Johnson Street
15

Continue on WI 23

0.3 mi · 40 sec · East Johnson Street
16

Turn left

0.2 mi · 38 sec
Use the left lane.
17

Continue on US 151

28 mi · 33 min · US 151
18

Turn right onto CTH C

6.0 mi · 8 min · County Road C
19

Turn right onto CTH A; CTH C

0.2 mi · 17 sec · County Road A
20

Continue on CTH A; CTH C

0.3 mi · 36 sec · East State Street
21

At end of road, turn left onto WI 68; CTH A; CTH C

154 ft · 3 sec · State Highway 68
22

Continue on WI 68; CTH A; CTH C

1.0 mi · 2 min · East State Street
23

Continue on WI 33; CTH A

27 mi · 39 min · State Highway 33
24

Continue on WI 33

4.9 mi · 7 min · East Cook Street
25

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 49 sec
26

Merge onto I 90; I 94

60 mi · 1 hr 4 min · I 90; I 94
27

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90
Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
28

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
29

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16
30

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
31

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
32

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
33

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
34

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
35

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Trip Plan

Given the 4-hour 17-minute duration, this trip is well-suited for a single day. To make the most of your drive, consider an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic and maximize daylight. You'll have one main stretch of 99.3 miles on I-90, so plan for a fuel and rest stop before or during that segment to ensure comfort. With a fuel cost estimate of $32, budget accordingly. The flexibility of a one-day trip means you can adjust your timing as needed, but keeping an eye on your fuel gauge is always a good practice on longer highway stretches.

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 101.1 miles from Rhine, WI, or about 2h 20m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 80 miles or 1h 52m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 101.1 miles or 2h 20m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 30m

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 Rhine, 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 Rhine, WI

This is one driving day of about 202.3 miles and 4h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Rhine, 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 99.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 101.1 mi from Rhine, WI · 2h 20m into the drive

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

101 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 101.1 miles from Rhine, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 99.3 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.

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

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 118.6
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.63 one way

$63.25 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $34.73 $69.45
premium $4.89 $38.93 $77.86
diesel $5.61 $44.67 $89.33

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 60.7 0 $21.24 $9.71
Efficient EV 50.6 0 $17.70 $8.09
EV Truck/SUV 80.9 1 $28.32 $12.95

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 kg (66% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Rhine, WI

Late night in Rhine on Wednesday

Local time

4:36 AM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Late night in La Crosse on Wednesday

Local time

4:36 AM

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

22 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

4h 17m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Rhine, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 202.3 miles and takes about 4h 17m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, US 151, State Highway 33. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 101.1 miles from Rhine, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $31.63 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 4h 17m drive. You will face about 19 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles (CTH P / County Road P): Navigation decision point; at 10.7 miles (WI 23 / State Highway 23): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 27.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Rhine, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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