Origin
Three Lakes, WI
Night in Three Lakes on Friday
Local time
9:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Three Lakes, WI to La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 6m
Distance
227.2 mi
366 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$36
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 53m
★
6 AM
4h 6m
8 AM
4h 32m
10 AM
4h 15m
12 PM
4h 13m
3 PM
4h 17m
5 PM
4h 31m
8 PM
3h 59m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Three Lakes, WI
Sean Ewing
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Three Lakes, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 227.2 miles and takes about 4h 6m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Superior Street, County Road A, Highway 17 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.52 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
113.6 miles from Three Lakes, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 6m. Total distance: 227.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 6m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Turn-heavy local drive route profile.
Drive Character
Expect a 4h 6m drive with frequent turns across 227.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 50 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Superior 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 6m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Three Lakes, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Superior Street | — | — |
| County Road A | — | — |
| Highway 17 | — | — |
| North Stevens Street | — | — |
| West Davenport Street | — | — |
| Highway 47 | — | — |
| Highway 8 | — | — |
| US 8 | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Superior Street
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Three Lakes, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Lake Drive
16 ft
·
3 sec
·
Lake Drive
2
Turn right onto Superior Street
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Superior Street
3
Continue on County Road A
8.7 mi
·
15 min
·
County Road A
4
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 17
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 17
5
Continue on North Stevens Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
North Stevens Street
6
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
7
Continue on North Stevens Street
2.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North Stevens Street
8
Turn right onto West Davenport Street
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
West Davenport Street
9
Turn left onto State Highway 47
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
State Highway 47
10
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US Highway 8
26 ft
·
2 sec
·
US Highway 8
11
Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 8
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 8
12
Continue on US 8
12 mi
·
15 min
·
US 8
13
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
14
Merge slight left
46 mi
·
53 min
15
Keep slight left to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
13 mi
·
13 min
·
I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
16
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
·
WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
17
Keep slight right
200 ft
·
7 sec
18
Turn straight onto State Highway 34
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
State Highway 34
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34
125 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 34
20
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34
9.7 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 34
21
Take the ramp right
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
22
Merge slight left onto US Highway 10
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 10
23
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
0.3 mi
·
49 sec
·
WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
24
Turn left onto Victory Road
15 mi
·
22 min
·
Victory Road
25
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue South
26
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 2nd Avenue South
187 ft
·
3 sec
·
2nd Avenue South
27
Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
2nd Avenue South
28
Continue on Wisconsin River Drive
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wisconsin River Drive
29
Turn right onto Letendre Avenue
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Letendre Avenue
30
Continue on State Highway 54
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 54
31
Turn left onto County Highway G
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G
32
Continue on State Highway 173
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 173
33
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 80
410 ft
·
7 sec
·
State Highway 80
34
Continue on State Highway 173
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 173
35
Continue on State Highway 173
24 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 173
36
Turn right onto State Highway 21
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 21
37
Continue on East McCoy Boulevard
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
·
East McCoy Boulevard
38
Continue on State Highway 21
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
State Highway 21
39
Take the exit straight
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
40
Merge slight left
2.8 mi
·
2 min
41
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
·
I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
42
Merge slight left
38 mi
·
40 min
43
Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
44
At the end of the road, turn left
4.9 mi
·
8 min
45
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
46
Turn right onto Main Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
47
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
48
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
49
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South
325 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
50
Arrive at your destination
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 113.6 miles from Three Lakes, WI, or about 2h 3m 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 50 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113.6 miles or 2h 3m 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 22m
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 Three Lakes, 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 Three Lakes, WI
This is one driving day of about 227.2 miles and 4h 6m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Three Lakes, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113.6 mi from Three Lakes, WI · 2h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
114 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 113.6 miles from Three Lakes, 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
$35.52 one way
$71.04 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
80 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $39.00 | $78.00 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.72 | $87.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $50.16 | $100.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$36
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$61–$86
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 68.2 | 0 | $23.86 | $10.91 |
| Efficient EV | 56.8 | 0 | $19.88 | $9.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.9 | 1 | $31.81 | $14.54 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
27 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Night in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
9:13 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
27 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 6m 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 Three Lakes, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 227.2 miles and takes about 4h 6m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Superior Street, County Road A, Highway 17. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 113.6 miles from Three Lakes, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.52 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 6m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Three Lakes, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Three Lakes, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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