Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
44m
Distance
31 mi
50 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
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
Angelo, WI
Wikimedia Commons
If you are looking for a quick Midwestern connection, the 31-mile trip from La Crosse to Sparta is an efficient trek across Wisconsin. You can expect to spend about 44 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day journey. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $5, the route is as economical as it is straightforward. Since the path is heavily reliant on major corridors, you won't need to worry about splitting this into an overnight stay. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from the riverfront area of La Crosse to the heart of Monroe County without any unnecessary detours.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 18.5 mi | 19m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| South Black River Street | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| Angelo Road | 1.6 mi | 2m |
| West Montgomery Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Angelo, 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
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto WI 27
Enter roundabout onto WI 27
Continue on WI 27
Turn right onto West Montgomery Street
Turn left onto WI 21
Turn left onto CTH Q
Turn right onto Gateway Avenue
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Arrive at destination
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 31 — 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 27: Sparta, Melvina
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Enter roundabout onto WI 27 / South Black River Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn right onto Grand Avenue
Navigation decision point
Regular Gas
$4.85 one way
$9.69 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
| premium | $4.89 | $5.97 | $11.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $6.84 | $13.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 10.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 9.3 | 0 | $3.25 | $1.49 |
| Efficient EV | 7.8 | 0 | $2.71 | $1.24 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.34 | $1.98 |
Gas CO2
11 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (64% 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
Night in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in Angelo on Saturday
Local time
11:17 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
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.
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 74% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares like I-90. You will spend the bulk of your journey on the interstate, including a significant 18.5-mile stretch that serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of the trip. The transition from the highway onto WI-16 and South Black River Street marks the shift from high-speed transit into the local environment of Sparta. Expect a consistent, predictable pace that favors efficiency over winding backroads. It is a functional commute that prioritizes speed, allowing you to cover the distance with minimal navigation stress.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WI 16. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Losey Boulevard North.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 31 miles you will encounter 11 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 25.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from La Crosse, WI to Angelo, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Melvina along the way.
Melvina
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.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 44m. Total distance: 31 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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