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Trip from La Crosse, WI to Bohners Lake, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 19m

Distance

220.8 mi

355 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$37

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 6m ★
6 AM
4h 19m
8 AM
4h 46m
10 AM
4h 29m
12 PM
4h 26m
3 PM
4h 30m
5 PM
4h 44m
8 PM
4h 11m

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

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Bohners Lake, WI, WI

Bohners Lake, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Spanning 220.8 miles across the heart of Wisconsin, this trip from La Crosse to Bohners Lake takes approximately 4 hours and 19 minutes of driving time. Because the journey is manageable in a single day, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stay. You should budget about $34 for fuel to cover the distance between these two Midwestern locations. The route relies on local roads rather than major interstates, utilizing Main Street, Losey Boulevard North, and I-39 to navigate the state. It is a straightforward trek for travelers who prefer local roads over the monotony of high-speed highways.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

110.4 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 131 mi 2h 20m
I 39 37.2 mi 39m
I 43 13.3 mi 14m
WI 11 11.2 mi 15m
State Highway 11 8.5 mi 12m
WI 16 4.5 mi 8m
US 14 3.5 mi 4m
Burlington Bypass 3.4 mi 4m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 131 mi, about 2h 20m

Traffic on I-90

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 42 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

3 PM

~1,401 veh/hr typical · worst 2,038

Quietest

2 AM

~164 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

8.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Bohners Lake, 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

4.5 mi · 8 min · WI 16
6

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
7

Merge onto I 90

131 mi · 2 hr 20 min · I 90
Use the straight lane.
8

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90

37 mi · 39 min · I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec
Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
10

Keep slight left at fork

518 ft · 13 sec
11

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

297 ft · 16 sec · East Racine Street
12

Continue on WI 11

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Racine Street
13

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

112 ft · 6 sec · East Racine Street
14

Continue on WI 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street
15

Turn straight onto WI 11

11 mi · 15 min · WI 11
16

Continue on US 14

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 14
17

Turn left

0.4 mi · 47 sec
18

Merge onto I 43

13 mi · 14 min · I 43
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 37 sec
Exit 29 Toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington Use the slight right lane.
20

Keep slight right at fork

159 ft · 3 sec
Toward WI 11 East, I 43 Alternate: Burlington Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
21

Merge onto WI 11

8.5 mi · 12 min · State Highway 11
22

Continue on WI 11

3.4 mi · 4 min · Burlington Bypass
23

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
24

Turn right onto CTH P

2.0 mi · 3 min · McHenry Street
25

Turn left onto Oakwood Drive

0.1 mi · 33 sec · Oakwood Drive
26

At end of road, turn right onto West Lakeshore Drive

0.3 mi · 1 min · West Lakeshore Drive
27

At end of road, turn left onto South Lakeshore Drive

0.4 mi · 1 min · South Lakeshore Drive
28

Turn right

178 ft · 9 sec
29

Turn right onto Fairview Court

96 ft · 4 sec · Fairview Court
30

Arrive at destination

Fairview Court

Trip Plan

Since you are looking at a drive time of over four hours, plan to make at least one intentional stop to break up the rhythm of the local roads. Leaving early in the morning is your best strategy to avoid fatigue, especially given the turn-heavy nature of the path. Because the route does not rely on major highways, keep an eye on your navigation to ensure you stay on track through the various local turns. Budgeting $34 for fuel is a solid starting point, but keep a little extra set aside for local fluctuations along the way. Use the flexibility of this one-day trip to your advantage by pacing your drive to match your comfort level behind the wheel.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.4 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 131 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 49 miles or 1h in

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

Halfway reset

Around 110.4 miles or 2h 5m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 3h 24m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bohners Lake, 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 220.8 miles and 4h 19m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 49 miles from La Crosse, 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 I 90 for about 131 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Dekorra, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dekorra, WI

110 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

Elroy, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 49 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Dekorra, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 110.4 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 131 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Lyndon Station Rest Area 9

0 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Portage Rest Area 11

0.1 mi from route

Poynette Rest Area 12

0.1 mi from route

Janesville Rest Area 17

0.1 mi from route

Bangor Rest Area 15

0.1 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.1 mi from route

Sparta Rest Area 16

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.2 mi from route

Pleasant Springs Travel Plaza

0.2 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.3 mi from route

Petro Stopping Centers

0.3 mi from route

TA

0.3 mi from route

Pilot Travel Center

0.3 mi from route

Mauston Rest Area 10

0.3 mi from route

Service Plaza

0.3 mi from route

Elkhorn Rest Area 35 (northbound)

2.1 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 20

5 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 205.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
7.1 mi into trip | ~15m in | I 90

Merge onto I 90

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
138.1 mi into trip | ~2h 35m in | I 39; I 90

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
6
175.6 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

8
205.5 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in

Take the exit toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 29 Toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
9
205.8 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in

Keep slight right at fork toward WI 11 East, I 43 Alternate: Burlington

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Toward WI 11 East, I 43 Alternate: Burlington

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$36.71 one way

$73.42 round trip

$4.22/gal 25.4 MPG avg 77 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $39.99 $79.97
premium $5.18 $45.06 $90.11
diesel $5.35 $46.51 $93.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$37

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$62–$87

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 77.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 66.2 0 $23.18 $10.60
Efficient EV 55.2 0 $19.32 $8.83
EV Truck/SUV 88.3 1 $30.91 $14.13

Gas CO2

77 kg

EV CO2

26 kg (66% less)

Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.

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 Jun 1, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Wednesday

Local time

4:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Slight Chance Rain Showers

0 mph 17% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:17AM CDT until June 1 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Destination

Bohners Lake, WI

Afternoon in Bohners Lake on Wednesday

Local time

4:53 PM

CDT

Current temp

54°F

Scattered Rain Showers

0 mph 30% chance Live forecast

Beach Hazards Statement

Beach Hazards Statement issued June 1 at 2:17AM CDT until June 1 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

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

4 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

4h 19m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

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...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 83.8
Park Closure: Janesville Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a turn-heavy, local experience as you navigate away from the Mississippi River toward the southeastern part of the state. With a 0% highway share, this route avoids the typical interstate grind, favoring a more technical drive that requires your full attention at the wheel. You will spend your time navigating through various local road segments rather than cruising along long, uninterrupted stretches. The road's personality is defined by its constant shifts and turns, making it a more engaging, hands-on driving experience than a standard highway route. Prepare for a steady, rhythmic pace that keeps you focused on the changing landscape as you head toward Bohners Lake.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 131 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 90.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 220.8 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.6 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,010 ft 669 ft

Total Climb

575 ft

Total Descent

395 ft

Highest Point

1,010 ft

~205 mi in

Elevation Range

342 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from La Crosse, WI to Bohners Lake, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Burlington along the way.

Burlington

205.5 mi in | ~3h 54m

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

Arriving in Bohners Lake, WI

Full guide →

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 4h 19m. Total distance: 220.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 131 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 20 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Bohners Lake, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

The main spots that need attention: at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 138.1 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 175.6 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Bohners Lake, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.

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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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