The drive from Stevens Point, WI to Onalaska, WI covers 112.2 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 90, State Highway 173, State Highway 66 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 41.2 miles on I 90.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.54 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
56.1 miles from Stevens Point, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 112.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 30m highway drive covering 112.2 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and State Highway 173. The longest continuous stretch is about 41.2 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 28 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 41.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 173. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 66 / Main Street.
Driving Effort6/10
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 112.2 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: near the start (WI 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (WI 13; WI 34): Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (WI 54; WI 73 / 2nd Avenue South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WI 66 / Main Street
Depart onto WI 66 / Main Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
4
14.6 mi into trip|~22m in|WI 13; WI 34
At end of road, turn left onto WI 13; WI 34
Navigation decision point
5
18.9 mi into trip|~29m in|WI 54; WI 73 / 2nd Avenue South
Enter roundabout onto WI 54; WI 73 / 2nd Avenue South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
68.8 mi into trip|~1h 42m 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
110.6 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|I 90; US 53
Take the exit onto I 90; US 53 toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
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 Stevens Point, WI to Onalaska, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Albert Lea along the way.
Albert Lea
68.8 mi in|~1h 42m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
41.2 mi
44m
State Highway 173
34 mi
49m
State Highway 66
12.7 mi
17m
State Highway 21
4.1 mi
5m
WI 13
3.8 mi
6m
I 94
2.8 mi
2m
State Highway 54
2.1 mi
3m
County Highway G
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 41.2 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stevens Point, WI and Onalaska, WI.
1
Start on WI 66
0.1 mi·21 sec·Main Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
2
Continue on WI 66
0.5 mi·1 min·Centerpoint Drive
3
Continue on WI 66
0.1 mi·19 sec·Water Street
4
Turn slight right onto WI 66
0.6 mi·1 min·WI 66
5
Turn left onto WI 66
0.6 mi·1 min·West Clark Street
6
Continue on WI 66
13 mi·17 min·State Highway 66
7
At end of road, turn left onto WI 13; WI 34
3.8 mi·6 min·WI 13; WI 34
8
Turn right onto WI 54; WI 73
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue South
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 54; WI 73
185 ft·3 sec·2nd Avenue South
10
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
1.3 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue South
11
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
1.6 mi·2 min·Wisconsin River Drive
12
Turn right onto WI 54; WI 73
1.4 mi·2 min·Letendre Avenue
13
Continue on WI 54
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 54
14
Turn left onto CTH G
2.0 mi·3 min·County Highway G
15
Continue on State Highway 173
9.1 mi·13 min·State Highway 173
16
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173
410 ft·7 sec·State Highway 80
17
Continue on WI 80; WI 173
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 173
18
Continue on WI 173
24 mi·33 min·State Highway 173
19
Turn right onto WI 21
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 21
20
Continue on WI 21
0.3 mi·33 sec·East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
21
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi·12 sec·State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
22
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
23
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi·2 min·I 94
24
Take the exit
0.7 mi·51 sec
Exit 147Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
25
Merge onto I 90
41 mi·43 min·I 90
26
Take the exit onto I 90; US 53
0.2 mi·27 sec·I 90; US 53
Exit 3Toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
27
Turn right onto WI 35
1.4 mi·3 min·Rose Street
28
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 56.1 miles from Stevens Point, WI, or about 1h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.2 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 25 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.1 miles or 1h 24m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Onalaska, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stevens Point, 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 Stevens Point, WI
This is one driving day of about 112.2 miles and 2h 30m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Stevens Point, 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 41.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.1 mi from Stevens Point, WI
· 1h 24m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 27.1
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
$17.54 one way
$35.08 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg39 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.26
$38.52
premium
$4.89
$21.59
$43.18
diesel
$5.61
$24.77
$49.54
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: 39.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.7
0
$11.78
$5.39
Efficient EV
28.1
0
$9.82
$4.49
EV Truck/SUV
44.9
0
$15.71
$7.18
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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
Stevens Point, WI
Evening
in Stevens Point on Friday
Local time
8:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
72°F
Sunny
W 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Onalaska, WI
Evening
in Onalaska on Friday
Local time
8:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°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
3 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 30m 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 Stevens Point, WI to Onalaska, WI covers 112.2 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, State Highway 173, State Highway 66. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 56.1 miles from Stevens Point, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.54 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 112.2 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: near the start (WI 66 / Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 14.6 miles (WI 13; WI 34): Navigation decision point; at 18.9 miles (WI 54; WI 73 / 2nd Avenue South): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
On the drive from Stevens Point, WI to Onalaska, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Albert Lea 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.
