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Trip from Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

1h 13m

Distance

49.4 mi

80 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$8

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 8m ★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Whitehall, WI, WI

Whitehall, WI

Quang Vuong

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Whitehall to La Crosse, you are looking at a straightforward 49.4-mile journey through the Wisconsin Midwest. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US Highway 53 and WI 16 to complete the connection. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, this is an efficient and cost-effective way to transition between these two locations. The route is entirely contained within the state of Wisconsin, offering a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.

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

24.7 miles from Whitehall, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 36m into the drive .

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Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You should expect a steady pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 24.3 miles along US Highway 53. While the road is designed for efficiency rather than technical complexity, the transition from local roads to the highway system keeps the experience moving quickly. Because the majority of your time is spent on high-speed routes, you will find the drive predictable and easy to manage behind the wheel. It is a practical path that prioritizes getting you to your destination without unnecessary detours or complex navigation.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Ervin 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 Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Ervin Street Unavailable Refreshing
Highway 53 Unavailable Refreshing
Losey Boulevard North Unavailable Refreshing
Main Street Unavailable Refreshing
16th Street South Unavailable Refreshing
Johnson Street Unavailable Refreshing
West Avenue South Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: Ervin Street — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Whitehall, WI and La Crosse, WI.

1

Start on Main Street

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Main Street
2

At the end of the road, turn left onto Ervin Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ervin Street
3

Continue on US Highway 53

24 mi · 35 min · US Highway 53
4

Turn left

18 mi · 22 min
5

Turn straight

0.6 mi · 1 min
6

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 18 sec
7

Turn straight

3.4 mi · 5 min
8

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
9

Turn right onto Main Street

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
10

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
11

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
12

At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South

325 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
13

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Since this trip takes just over an hour, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. You can easily complete the 49.4-mile stretch without needing to schedule formal stops, though keeping your fuel tank in mind remains a good practice. Given the short duration, you won't need to worry about splitting the drive, allowing you to head straight to your destination. Because the route relies so heavily on US Highway 53, keep an eye on traffic flow along that 24.3-mile stretch to ensure your arrival time stays on track. Being prepared for a direct, highway-based transit will make your trip smooth and hassle-free.

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 24.7 miles from Whitehall, WI, or about 36m 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 49.4 miles or 1h 13m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 24.7 miles or 36m 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 2m

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 Whitehall, 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 Whitehall, WI

This is one driving day of about 49.4 miles and 1h 13m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Whitehall, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 24.7 mi from Whitehall, WI · 36m into the drive

city in and county seat of Dubuque, Iowa, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dubuque, IA

25 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

Dubuque, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49.4 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dubuque, IA

Meal break

The midpoint is around 24.7 miles from Whitehall, 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

$7.72 one way

$15.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 17 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $8.48 $16.96
premium $4.89 $9.51 $19.01
diesel $5.61 $10.91 $21.81

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$8

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$33–$58

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 14.8 0 $5.19 $2.37
Efficient EV 12.4 0 $4.32 $1.98
EV Truck/SUV 19.8 0 $6.92 $3.16

Gas CO2

17 kg

EV CO2

6 kg (65% 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 data refreshed 5 days ago

Origin

Whitehall, WI

Evening in Whitehall on Tuesday

Local time

5:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

43°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Evening in La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

5:44 PM

CDT

Current temp

39°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

4 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

1h 13m 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 Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 49.4 miles and takes about 1h 13m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Ervin Street, Highway 53, Losey Boulevard North. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 24.7 miles from Whitehall, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $7.72 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 Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 1h 13m 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 Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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