Origin
River Falls, WI
Evening in River Falls on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 12m
Distance
117 mi
188 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 4m
★
6 AM
2h 13m
8 AM
2h 32m
10 AM
2h 19m
12 PM
2h 18m
3 PM
2h 20m
5 PM
2h 31m
8 PM
2h 7m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 117 miles and takes about 2h 12m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Cedar Street, North 3rd Street, East Maple Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.29 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
0 planned breaks
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.5 miles from River Falls, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 12m drive with frequent turns across 117 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Cedar Street is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Cedar Street | — | — |
| North 3rd Street | — | — |
| East Maple Street | — | — |
| North 6th Street | — | — |
| East Cascade Avenue | — | — |
| Highway 29 | — | — |
| Highway 65 | — | — |
| North Maple Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East Cedar Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Falls, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on the route
69 ft
·
7 sec
·
the route
2
Turn right onto East Cedar Street
0.1 mi
·
23 sec
·
East Cedar Street
3
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North 3rd Street
4
Turn left onto East Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
East Maple Street
5
Turn right onto North 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
North 6th Street
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward East Cascade Avenue
194 ft
·
11 sec
·
East Cascade Avenue
7
Exit the roundabout onto East Cascade Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cascade Avenue
8
Turn left onto East Cascade Avenue
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
East Cascade Avenue
9
Take the ramp slight right
384 ft
·
9 sec
10
Merge slight left onto State Highway 29/35/65
0.5 mi
·
44 sec
·
State Highway 29/35/65
11
Continue on State Highway 65
0.1 mi
·
9 sec
·
State Highway 65
12
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 65
135 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 65
13
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 65
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 65
14
Continue on North Maple Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Maple Street
15
Turn right onto West Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
16
Turn left
12 mi
·
18 min
17
Turn right onto Route 61/Route 63
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Route 61/Route 63
18
Continue on North Lakeshore Drive
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
North Lakeshore Drive
19
Continue on Route 61
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Route 61
20
Continue on 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
2nd Street
21
Continue on Route 61
37 mi
·
45 min
·
Route 61
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 14;US 61
161 ft
·
3 sec
·
US 14;US 61
23
Exit the rotary onto US 14;US 61
0.2 mi
·
12 sec
·
US 14;US 61
24
Continue straight
12 mi
·
14 min
25
Continue straight
8.5 mi
·
9 min
26
Keep slight right
2.9 mi
·
4 min
27
Turn left onto Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
28
Continue straight
1.3 mi
·
2 min
29
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
30
Merge slight left onto 3rd Street South
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
3rd Street South
31
Continue on South Avenue
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
·
South Avenue
32
Turn left onto Adams Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Adams Street
33
Turn left onto West Avenue South
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
West Avenue South
34
Arrive at your destination
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 58.5 miles from River Falls, WI, or about 1h 6m into the drive.
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 26 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.5 miles or 1h 6m 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 River Falls, 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 River Falls, WI
This is one driving day of about 117 miles and 2h 12m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from River Falls, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.5 mi from River Falls, WI · 1h 6m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.5 miles from River Falls, 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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.29 one way
$36.58 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.08 | $40.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.52 | $45.03 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.83 | $51.66 |
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: 40.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.1 | 0 | $12.29 | $5.62 |
| Efficient EV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.24 | $4.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.8 | 0 | $16.38 | $7.49 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Evening in La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
6:14 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
2 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 12m 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 River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 117 miles and takes about 2h 12m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Cedar Street, North 3rd Street, East Maple Street. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.5 miles from River Falls, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.29 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 River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 2h 12m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from River Falls, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
Was this route helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From La Crosse, WI
More from River Falls, WI
More trips to La Crosse, WI
Explore more options from River Falls, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for River Falls, WI or La Crosse, WI on MapSof.net.