Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 59m
Distance
94.5 mi
152 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Adams, WI
Wikimedia Commons
If you are planning a trip from La Crosse to Adams, you can expect a straightforward journey covering 94.5 miles. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 59 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion without the need for an overnight stay. You will primarily utilize I-90, State Highway 13, and State Highway 82 to navigate across the Wisconsin landscape. Budgeting approximately $14 for fuel should comfortably cover your transit between these two Midwestern locations. Because the route is short and efficient, it is an ideal choice for travelers who prefer to spend less time behind the wheel and more time at their final destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
47.3 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 62.5 mi | 1h 7m |
| State Highway 13 | 12.2 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 82 | 11.6 mi | 17m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Adams, WI.
Start on WI 35
Turn right
Turn straight onto CTH F
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
Continue on WI 16
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 90
Take the exit
Turn left onto State Highway 82
Continue on State Highway 82
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 82
Continue on WI 82
Turn left onto WI 13
Continue on WI 13
Turn left onto West Grove Street
Turn right
Arrive at destination
Since this is a sub-two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time, though leaving mid-morning can help you avoid potential traffic near La Crosse. With no mandatory stops required to reach Adams in under two hours, you can easily complete the trip in one go. However, keep in mind that the 62.5-mile stretch on I-90 is the longest uninterrupted portion of your trip, so ensure your fuel tank is topped off before merging onto the interstate. Given the highway-heavy nature of the route, stay alert for shifting speed limits when you transition from the interstate onto State Highways 13 and 82. Staying hydrated and keeping a light snack in the car will keep you comfortable throughout the duration of this efficient Wisconsin transit.
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.
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 21 miles or 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 47.3 miles or 58m 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 34m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Adams, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving La Crosse, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 94.5 miles and 1h 59m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
47 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.
A short stop after about 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 47.3 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 62.5 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 94.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
Navigation decision point
Take the exit toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 82
Navigation decision point
Turn left onto WI 13 / State Highway 13
Navigation decision point
Turn right
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$14.77 one way
$29.55 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.22 | $32.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.19 | $36.37 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.86 | $41.73 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.3 | 0 | $9.92 | $4.54 |
| Efficient EV | 23.6 | 0 | $8.27 | $3.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 37.8 | 0 | $13.23 | $6.05 |
Gas CO2
33 kg
EV CO2
11 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
74°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Late night in Adams on Tuesday
Local time
3:12 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Expect a highly efficient, highway-focused experience, as 96% of your time will be spent on major roads. The journey begins with a significant 62.5-mile stretch along I-90, which allows for consistent speeds and steady progress. As you transition off the interstate and onto State Highways 13 and 82, the character of the drive shifts from high-speed transit to a more localized road experience. While the majority of your time is spent on the interstate, the final segments provide a change of pace as you navigate the state highway system. Overall, this is a functional, no-nonsense route designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal complexity.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 13. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Losey Boulevard North.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 59m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 69.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.2 miles (State Highway 82): Navigation decision point.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
129 ft
Total Descent
0 ft
Highest Point
797 ft
~20.3 mi in
Elevation Range
129 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Crosse, WI to Adams, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Oxford along the way.
Oxford
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 59m. Total distance: 94.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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