Origin
Cornell, WI
Morning in Cornell on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Cornell, WI to La Crosse, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 52m
Distance
114.2 mi
184 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 41m
★
6 AM
2h 52m
8 AM
3h 14m
10 AM
3h 0m
12 PM
2h 58m
3 PM
3h 1m
5 PM
3h 13m
8 PM
2h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Cornell, WI to La Crosse, WI is 114.2 miles and takes about 2h 52m via US Highway 53 and State Highway 27, with a fuel budget near $18 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving you through the Midwest. With 81% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct path between these two points. This is a straightforward, single-day trip if you're looking for an efficient way to get from Cornell to La Crosse.
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
57.1 miles from Cornell, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 27m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 53 | 34.9 mi | 49m |
| State Highway 27 | 34.5 mi | 51m |
| US 53 | 17.8 mi | 22m |
| Ekern Street | 7.7 mi | 11m |
| County Highway R | 6.8 mi | 11m |
| WI 16 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| 10th Street | 1.7 mi | 3m |
| West Lincoln Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 53
— 34.9 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Cornell, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Main Street
74 ft
·
5 sec
·
Main Street
2
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 3rd Street
3
Continue on WI 27
35 mi
·
51 min
·
State Highway 27
4
Turn right onto US 12; CTH G
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Lincoln Street
5
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
US 12; WI 27
6
Turn left onto CTH R
6.8 mi
·
11 min
·
County Highway R
7
Continue on CTH R
0.5 mi
·
54 sec
·
County Road R
8
At end of road, turn right onto US 10
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
US Highway 10
9
Continue on US 10
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
10th Street
10
Turn left onto US 53
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Harmony Street
11
Continue on US 53
11 mi
·
14 min
·
US Highway 53
12
Continue on US 53
7.7 mi
·
11 min
·
Ekern Street
13
At end of road, turn left onto US 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ervin Street
14
Continue on US 53
24 mi
·
35 min
·
US Highway 53
15
Turn left onto US 53; WI 93; WI 54
18 mi
·
22 min
·
US 53; WI 93; WI 54
16
Turn straight onto WI 157
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 157
17
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
18
Turn straight onto WI 16
3.4 mi
·
5 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
Given this route takes under 3 hours, it's easily achievable in a single day, offering flexibility in your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight. The fuel cost is estimated at $18, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before you leave Cornell, as there's only one recommended stop. The longest continuous stretch on US Highway 53 is nearly 35 miles, so plan for a break before or after that if needed. This route is mostly highway, so keep an eye on traffic patterns as you approach La Crosse.
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 57.1 miles from Cornell, WI, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34.9 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 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.1 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 20m
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 Cornell, 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 Cornell, WI
This is one driving day of about 114.2 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 miles from Cornell, 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 US Highway 53 for about 34.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
57 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.1 miles from Cornell, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 105 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 114.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
South 3rd Street
Turn right onto South 3rd Street
Navigation decision point
4
43.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
|
US 10 / US Highway 10
At end of road, turn right onto US 10 / US Highway 10
Navigation decision point
5
65 mi into trip
|
~1h 39m in
|
US 53 / Ervin Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 53 / Ervin Street
Navigation decision point
4
112.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 46m in
|
CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
114.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 51m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$17.85 one way
$35.71 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.60 | $39.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.98 | $43.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.21 | $50.43 |
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: 40 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.3 | 0 | $11.99 | $5.48 |
| Efficient EV | 28.6 | 0 | $9.99 | $4.57 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 45.7 | 0 | $15.99 | $7.31 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (68% 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Morning in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
9:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
59°F
Whitehall, WI
57 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
19 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
2h 52m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on highways, with 81% of the 114.2-mile route utilizing them. The longest stretch without a major road change is 34.9 miles on US Highway 53. Expect a primarily highway experience until you transition onto surface roads for the final portion of the drive. The density of exits and merges will be noticeable as you navigate the highway segments.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.9 mi on US Highway 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 53 and State Highway 27. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near South 3rd Street.
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 2h 52m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.7 miles (US 10 / US Highway 10): Navigation decision point; at 65 miles (US 53 / Ervin Street): Navigation decision point.
About the Cities
Arriving in La Crosse, WI
Full guide →Founded 1842
La Crosse is a city in the Coulee Region of Southwest Wisconsin on the Mississippi River. It is the county seat of La Crosse County. It's nestled between the river and picturesque bluffs that rise behind it. With a city population of around 50,000 and the metropolitan area just under 100,000, La Crosse offers visitors plenty of activities to do and sights to see, without the overwhelming hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
Top landmarks
- • St. Rose of Viterbo Convent — historic church in Wisconsin, United States
- • La Crosse station — train station in La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
- • Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 114.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 52m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.9 miles on US Highway 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (South 3rd Street): Navigation decision point; at 43.7 miles (US 10 / US Highway 10): Navigation decision point; at 65 miles (US 53 / Ervin Street): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at La Crosse, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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