This 63.9-mile drive from La Crosse to Bridgeport, Wisconsin, is a manageable 1 hour and 34 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily following the Great River Road and State Highway 35, with a segment on Mormon Coulee Road, this route is best suited for a single day of exploration. The estimated fuel cost is around $10, reflecting its relatively short distance. Expect a turn-heavy local drive experience as you navigate through the Midwest region. With no recommended stops, you have the flexibility to decide your own pace.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
31.9 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 47m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
Great River Road
42.9 mi
59m
State Highway 35
11.9 mi
16m
Mormon Coulee Road
2.6 mi
5m
South Marquette Road
1.9 mi
4m
North Marquette Road
1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
North Main Street
0.9 mi
1m
South Avenue
0.8 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
Great River Road
— 42.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Bridgeport, WI.
1
Start on WI 35
40 ft·9 sec·West Avenue South
2
Continue on WI 35
0.7 mi·2 min·West Avenue South
3
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
224 ft·6 sec·South Avenue
4
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
0.5 mi·1 min·South Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
128 ft·3 sec·South Avenue
6
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
133 ft·3 sec·Mormon Coulee Road
8
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
2.6 mi·5 min·Mormon Coulee Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 35
84 ft·1 sec·Great River Road
10
Continue on WI 35
0.3 mi·28 sec·Great River Road
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 35
125 ft·2 sec·Great River Road
12
Continue on WI 35
5.6 mi·7 min·Great River Road
13
Continue on WI 35
0.9 mi·1 min·North Main Street
14
Continue on WI 35
3.4 mi·4 min·Great River Road
15
Continue on WI 35
6.1 mi·8 min·State Highway 35
16
Continue on WI 35
14 mi·19 min·Great River Road
17
Continue on WI 35
0.9 mi·1 min·Main Street
18
Continue on WI 35
2.6 mi·3 min·Great River Road
19
Continue on WI 35
5.1 mi·6 min·State Highway 35
20
Continue on WI 35
13 mi·17 min·Great River Road
21
Continue on WI 35
0.7 mi·1 min·State Highway 35
22
Continue on WI 35
1.0 mi·1 min·North Marquette Road
23
Enter roundabout onto WI 35; WI 27
134 ft·3 sec·South Marquette Road
24
Continue on WI 35; WI 27
460 ft·11 sec·South Marquette Road
25
Enter roundabout onto WI 35; WI 27
142 ft·3 sec·South Marquette Road
26
Continue on WI 35; WI 27
343 ft·8 sec·South Marquette Road
27
Enter roundabout onto WI 35
120 ft·2 sec·South Marquette Road
28
Continue on WI 35
1.7 mi·3 min·South Marquette Road
29
Continue on US 18; WI 35; WI 60
3.7 mi·5 min·Great River Road
30
Turn slight left
0.2 mi·34 sec
31
Turn left onto WI 60
226 ft·3 sec·State Highway 60
32
Arrive at destination
WI 60
Trip Plan
Given its short duration and distance, this 63.9-mile trip from La Crosse to Bridgeport offers plenty of flexibility. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight hours for your drive. Since there are no designated stops, plan your own breaks as needed, especially since the longest stretch without a town is 42.9 miles. With an estimated fuel cost of just $10, you won't need to worry much about refueling, but it's always wise to keep an eye on your tank. Pay attention to the frequent turns characteristic of this route, especially on State Highway 35 and Mormon Coulee Road.
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 31.9 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 42.9 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 14 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 31.9 miles or 47m 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 18m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Bridgeport, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 63.9 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 14 miles from La Crosse, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on Great River Road for about 42.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 58.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip|~2m in|US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in|US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
4.4 mi into trip|~10m in|WI 35 / Great River Road
Enter roundabout onto WI 35 / Great River Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
58.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|WI 35; WI 27 / South Marquette Road
Enter roundabout onto WI 35; WI 27 / South Marquette Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
58.2 mi into trip|~1h 24m in|WI 35 / South Marquette Road
Enter roundabout onto WI 35 / South Marquette Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$9.99 one way
$19.98 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg22 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$10.97
$21.94
premium
$4.89
$12.30
$24.59
diesel
$5.61
$14.11
$28.22
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$10
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$35–$60
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 22.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
19.2
0
$6.71
$3.07
Efficient EV
16
0
$5.59
$2.56
EV Truck/SUV
25.6
0
$8.95
$4.09
Gas CO2
22 kg
EV CO2
7 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 17, 2026
Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Mostly Clear
SE 7 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 3:09AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 17 at 2:52AM CDT until April 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Bridgeport, WI
Morning
in Bridgeport on Sunday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
75°F
Seneca, WI
32 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
1 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
1h 34m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This road trip offers a turn-heavy local drive, rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. Only 19% of the journey involves highway driving, meaning you'll spend most of your time on more intimate local roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 42.9 miles along the Great River Road. Be prepared for a dynamic driving experience with frequent turns and changes in scenery as you traverse Wisconsin.
Only 19% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 42.9 mi on Great River Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Bridgeport, WI is easy. At 1h 34m with 19% 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 (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.4 miles (WI 35 / Great River Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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.
The longest stretch is about 42.9 miles on Great River Road. 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: at 0.7 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.4 miles (WI 35 / Great River Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Bridgeport, WI before heading back.
