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Trip from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h

Distance

79.1 mi

127 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 26 min
4 AM
1h 51m ★
6 AM
2h 0m
8 AM
2h 17m
10 AM
2h 6m
12 PM
2h 4m
3 PM
2h 7m
5 PM
2h 17m
8 PM
1h 55m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Augusta, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from La Crosse to Augusta, Wisconsin, you are looking at a manageable 79.1-mile journey through the heart of the Midwest. Expect the drive to take roughly two hours, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via South Main Street, WI 157, and US Highway 53 to reach your destination. With a fuel budget of approximately $12, this is a highly economical route for a quick getaway. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, the straightforward nature of this connection makes it an easy addition to your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

39.6 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Main Street 24.2 mi 34m
WI 157 12.7 mi 15m
US Highway 53 10.5 mi 14m
Main Street 8.6 mi 13m
County Highway R 6.8 mi 11m
US 53 5.7 mi 7m
WI 16 3.3 mi 6m
10th Street 1.7 mi 3m
Longest stretch: South Main Street — 24.2 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on WI 35

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Avenue South
2

Turn right

350 ft · 12 sec
3

Turn straight onto CTH F

0.9 mi · 2 min · Main Street
4

Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
5

Continue on WI 16

3.3 mi · 6 min · WI 16
6

Turn slight left

0.1 mi · 15 sec
7

Turn left onto WI 157

13 mi · 15 min · WI 157
8

Continue on US 53; WI 93

5.7 mi · 7 min · US 53; WI 93
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
10

Turn straight onto US 53

24 mi · 34 min · South Main Street
11

Continue on US 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ervin Street
12

Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D

7.7 mi · 11 min · Main Street
13

Continue on US 53

11 mi · 14 min · US Highway 53
14

Continue on US 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · Harmony Street
15

Turn right onto US 10

1.7 mi · 3 min · 10th Street
16

Continue on US 10

0.8 mi · 1 min · US Highway 10
17

Turn left onto CTH R

0.5 mi · 53 sec · County Road R
18

Continue on CTH R

6.8 mi · 11 min · County Highway R
19

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

1.6 mi · 3 min · US 12; WI 27
20

Turn left onto CTH G

198 ft · 5 sec · County Highway G
21

Arrive at destination

CTH G

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short two-hour drive, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Since the trip is direct with zero planned stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before you leave La Crosse to avoid unnecessary detours. Keep in mind that with only 79.1 miles to cover, you can easily complete the trip in one go without needing to build in long rest intervals. As you transition from the local segments onto US Highway 53, pay close attention to your speed, as the road character changes noticeably. Taking advantage of the quick transit time allows you to maximize your day in Augusta without the fatigue of a longer haul.

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 39.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.2 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 17 miles or 26m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 39.6 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 38m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Augusta, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving La Crosse, 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 La Crosse, WI

This is one driving day of about 79.1 miles and 2h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from La Crosse, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Main Street for about 24.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Wisconsin, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blair, WI

40 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

Holmen, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Blair, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 39.6 miles from La Crosse, 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 7

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 77.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
0.7 mi into trip | ~2m in

Turn right

Navigation decision point

4
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | Losey Boulevard North

Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

Navigation decision point

3
24.1 mi into trip | ~36m in

Take the exit

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

4
49 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
77.5 mi into trip | ~1h 56m in | US 12; WI 27

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$12.37 one way

$24.73 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.58 $27.16
premium $4.89 $15.22 $30.44
diesel $5.61 $17.46 $34.93

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 27.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 23.7 0 $8.31 $3.80
Efficient EV 19.8 0 $6.92 $3.16
EV Truck/SUV 31.6 0 $11.07 $5.06

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 12, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

4:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

74°F

Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 13 to 21 mph 18% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:53PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 11:31AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Destination

Augusta, WI

Late night in Augusta on Tuesday

Local time

4:00 AM

CDT

Current temp

72°F

Mostly Cloudy

S 15 to 20 mph 12% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 1:53PM CDT until April 18 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 12 at 11:31AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

59°F

Blair, WI

40 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

2 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

2h on the road

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.

What kind of drive is this?

This 79.1-mile trek offers a mixed drive profile, shifting between local streets and more open highway infrastructure. With a 44% highway share, you will spend a significant portion of the trip on US Highway 53, balanced by stretches of local road navigation. You can expect your longest uninterrupted segment to be 24.2 miles along South Main Street, which provides a steady rhythm before you transition to the higher-speed highway sections. Because the route combines urban-adjacent roads with standard highway travel, you will experience a variety of driving conditions that keep the journey from feeling like a monotonous interstate grind.

44% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.2 mi on South Main Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

2/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 2/10

Very easy - short and simple to drive

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

The drive from La Crosse, WI to Augusta, WI is easy. At 2h with 44% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,020 ft 669 ft

Total Climb

485 ft

Total Descent

196 ft

Highest Point

1,020 ft

~73.5 mi in

Elevation Range

352 ft

About the Cities

Starting 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. Total distance: 79.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (44%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.2 miles on South Main Street. 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: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 24.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Augusta, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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