The drive from Silver Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 42m 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 Follett Drive, State Highway 21 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 38.1 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.37 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
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
58.8 miles from Silver Lake, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 42m. Total distance: 117.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 42m highway drive covering 117.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and East Follett Drive. The longest continuous stretch is about 38.1 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 24 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 East Follett Drive. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.5 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 117.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.5 miles (South Fair Street): Navigation decision point; at 71.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 12 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
3.5 mi into trip|~8m in|South Fair Street
At end of road, turn left onto South Fair Street
Navigation decision point
6
71.2 mi into trip|~1h 44m 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
110 mi into trip|~2h 26m 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
115.7 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
117.5 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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 Silver Lake, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Albert Lea and Onalaska.
Albert Lea
71.2 mi in|~1h 44m
Onalaska
110 mi in|~2h 26m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
38.1 mi
40m
East Follett Drive
28.9 mi
40m
State Highway 21
25.6 mi
36m
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
16th Street South
0.8 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 38.1 mi, about 40m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Silver Lake, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on WI 21
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 21
2
Continue on WI 21; WI 73
0.6 mi·1 min·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto East Division Street
0.9 mi·3 min·East Division Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto South Fair Street
17 ft·2 sec·South Fair Street
5
Turn right onto West Division Street
0.5 mi·1 min·West Division Street
6
Continue on WI 21
12 mi·16 min·State Highway 21
7
Continue on WI 21
0.5 mi·49 sec·Wautoma Road
8
Continue on WI 21
29 mi·40 min·East Follett Drive
9
Continue on WI 21
11 mi·15 min·East 3rd Street
10
Continue on WI 21; CTH H
11 mi·15 min·State Highway 21
11
Continue on WI 21
0.3 mi·33 sec·East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi·12 sec·State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
14
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi·2 min·I 94
15
Take the exit
0.7 mi·51 sec
Exit 147Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
16
Merge onto I 90
38 mi·40 min·I 90
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
18
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
19
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
20
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
21
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
22
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
23
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
24
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 58.8 miles from Silver Lake, WI, or about 1h 27m 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 26 miles or 40m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.8 miles or 1h 27m 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 11m
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 Silver Lake, 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 Silver Lake, WI
This is one driving day of about 117.5 miles and 2h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from Silver Lake, 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 58.8 mi from Silver Lake, WI
· 1h 27m into the drive
The midpoint is around 58.8 miles from Silver Lake, 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 20.3
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
$18.37 one way
$36.74 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.17
$40.34
premium
$4.89
$22.61
$45.22
diesel
$5.61
$25.94
$51.89
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: 41.1 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
35.3
0
$12.34
$5.64
Efficient EV
29.4
0
$10.28
$4.70
EV Truck/SUV
47
0
$16.45
$7.52
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.
Forecast as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Silver Lake, WI
Morning
in Silver Lake on Saturday
Local time
9:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
9:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph38% chanceLive 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
36 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 42m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Silver Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 117.5 miles and takes about 2h 42m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, East Follett Drive, State Highway 21. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.8 miles from Silver Lake, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $18.37 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 117.5 miles you will encounter 12 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 3.5 miles (South Fair Street): Navigation decision point; at 71.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 110 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Silver Lake, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Albert Lea and Onalaska.
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.
