Origin
Ettrick, WI
Late night in Ettrick on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Ettrick, 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
50m
Distance
32.9 mi
53 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 46m
★
6 AM
0h 50m
8 AM
0h 58m
10 AM
0h 53m
12 PM
0h 52m
3 PM
0h 53m
5 PM
0h 58m
8 PM
0h 48m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Ettrick, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick jaunt through the Wisconsin Midwest, the 32.9-mile journey from Ettrick to La Crosse is a straightforward transition. You can expect to spend about 50 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $5, the drive is highly economical for those looking to reach their destination without significant expense. Since the entire route is contained within the state, you won't need to worry about adjusting for regional travel differences. It is an ideal option if you prioritize efficiency and simplicity over a multi-day itinerary.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 17.8 mi | 22m |
| US Highway 53 | 8.3 mi | 13m |
| WI 16 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| WI 157 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Johnson Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 17.8 mi, about 22m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on CTH D
15 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Main Street
2
Turn left onto Bridge Street
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
Bridge Street
3
Continue on Caroline Street
481 ft
·
13 sec
·
Caroline Street
4
Turn left onto US 53
8.3 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 53
5
Turn left onto US 53; WI 93; WI 54
18 mi
·
22 min
·
US 53; WI 93; WI 54
6
Turn straight onto WI 157
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 157
7
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
8
Turn straight onto WI 16
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
WI 16
9
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
10
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
11
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
12
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
13
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
14
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
16 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 32.9 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Ettrick, 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 32.8 — 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
|
Bridge Street
Turn left onto Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
3
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 53 / US Highway 53
Turn left onto US 53 / US Highway 53
Navigation decision point
4
31 mi into trip
|
~44m in
|
CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
32.5 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
Johnson Street
Turn right onto Johnson Street
Navigation decision point
5
32.8 mi into trip
|
~49m 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
$5.14 one way
$10.29 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.65 | $11.29 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.33 | $12.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.26 | $14.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.9 | 0 | $3.45 | $1.58 |
| Efficient EV | 8.2 | 0 | $2.88 | $1.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.2 | 0 | $4.61 | $2.11 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
4:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
50m 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?
This trip is heavily highway-focused, with 92% of your travel spent on major routes like US 53 and WI 16. You will find yourself cruising along a significant 17.8-mile stretch on US 53, which defines the bulk of the experience. The road character remains consistent throughout the drive, offering a predictable ride rather than technical twists or turns. Expect a steady, uninterrupted flow that allows you to maintain a reliable pace from start to finish. Because you are primarily on highway infrastructure, the drive feels functional and direct, getting you where you need to go with minimal fuss.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 17.8 mi on US 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and US Highway 53. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Bridge 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 50m drive. You will face about 7 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 (Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 53 / US Highway 53): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (CTH F / Main 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 50m. Total distance: 32.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 17.8 miles on US 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (Bridge Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.3 miles (US 53 / US Highway 53): Navigation decision point; at 31 miles (CTH F / Main 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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From La Crosse, WI
More trips to La Crosse, WI
Explore more options from Ettrick, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.