The drive from River Hills, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 219.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, East-West Freeway, I 94 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 102.6 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $34.36 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
109.9 miles from River Hills, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 11m. Total distance: 219.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 4h 11m highway drive covering 219.8 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and East-West Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 102.6 miles on I 90.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 19 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 102.6 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and East-West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 219.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 16 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
10.1 mi into trip|~15m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72D
Toward I 94 West: Madison
6
27 mi into trip|~36m in|I 94 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
80.5 mi into trip|~1h 34m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
6
109.7 mi into trip|~2h 5m in|I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
173.1 mi into trip|~3h 13m 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
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from River Hills, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.
Eau Claire
80.5 mi in|~1h 34m|via I 94
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
102.6 mi
1h 49m
East-West Freeway
69.6 mi
1h 17m
I 94
29.1 mi
31m
North-South Freeway
9.2 mi
12m
WI 16
4.9 mi
8m
16th Street South
0.8 mi
2m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 102.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Hills, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on West Heather Lane
201 ft·8 sec·West Heather Lane
2
Turn right onto North Spruce Road
0.2 mi·37 sec·North Spruce Road
3
Turn right onto WI 100
0.3 mi·34 sec·West Brown Deer Road
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 94 East Alternate, I 43 South: Milwaukee
5
Merge onto I 43
9.2 mi·12 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 72DToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Merge onto I 94
16 mi·20 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi·41 min·I 90
Exit 45Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
13
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
14
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
15
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
16
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
17
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
19
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
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 109.9 miles from River Hills, WI, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 48 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.9 miles or 2h 5m 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 21m
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 Hills, 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 Hills, WI
This is one driving day of about 219.8 miles and 4h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from River Hills, 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 102.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.9 mi from River Hills, WI
· 2h 5m into the drive
The midpoint is around 109.9 miles from River Hills, 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 102.6 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.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 136.4
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.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.36 one way
$68.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.73
$75.46
premium
$4.89
$42.30
$84.60
diesel
$5.61
$48.53
$97.06
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.9
0
$23.08
$10.55
Efficient EV
55
0
$19.23
$8.79
EV Truck/SUV
87.9
1
$30.77
$14.07
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 18, 2026
Origin
River Hills, WI
Morning
in River Hills on Saturday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
6:58 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT until April 20 at 2:30AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
47°F
Lodi, WI
110 mi in
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
4h 11m 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 River Hills, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 219.8 miles and takes about 4h 11m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, East-West Freeway, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 109.9 miles from River Hills, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $34.36 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 demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 219.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here; at 27 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 80.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from River Hills, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Eau Claire along the way.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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.
