Trip from La Crosse, WI to Como, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 3, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h
Distance
207.8 mi
334 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Como, WI
www.kaboompics.com
Trip Overview
Planning a trip from La Crosse, WI to Como, WI? This 207.8-mile journey takes approximately 4 hours and is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 95% of the route utilizing major interstates. It's a manageable one-day trip, perfect for a quick getaway within the Midwest region. Expect a fuel cost of around $32 for this drive. With only one recommended stop, you can make good time, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Wisconsin points.
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
103.9 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 131 mi | 2h 20m |
| I 39 | 37.2 mi | 39m |
| WI 11 | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| I 43 | 10 mi | 10m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| US 14 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| County Road H | 2.7 mi | 3m |
| East Racine Street | 1.6 mi | 2m |
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
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 Como, 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
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
Continue on WI 11
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
Continue on WI 11
Turn straight onto WI 11
Continue on US 14
Turn left
Merge onto I 43
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto WI 67
Turn left onto Remer Road
At end of road, turn left onto Petrie Road
Turn right onto CTH H
Turn right onto Club House Drive
Continue on Club House Drive
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize your day and avoid potential midday traffic. With only one stop recommended, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 131-mile stretch on I-90, as services might be less frequent. The $32 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always factor in a little extra. Since it's a relatively short drive, you have flexibility to adjust your schedule as needed.
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.
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 46 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 103.9 miles or 1h 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 3h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Como, 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 207.8 miles and 4h.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
104 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
A short stop after about 46 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 103.9 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 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.
Love's Travel Stop
Portage Rest Area 11
Poynette Rest Area 12
Janesville Rest Area 17
Bangor Rest Area 15
Service Plaza
Sparta Rest Area 16
Love's Travel Stop
Road Ranger
Road Ranger
Love's Travel Stop
Pleasant Springs Travel Plaza
Petro Stopping Centers
Petro Stopping Centers
TA
Pilot Travel Center
Mauston Rest Area 10
Service Plaza
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 202.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward WI 11 East: Delavan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward WI 67: Elkhorn, Williams Bay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.55 one way
$69.10 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $37.63 | $75.27 |
| premium | $5.18 | $42.40 | $84.81 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $43.77 | $87.54 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 72.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 62.3 | 0 | $21.82 | $9.97 |
| Efficient EV | 52 | 0 | $18.18 | $8.31 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 83.1 | 1 | $29.09 | $13.30 |
Gas CO2
73 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
La Crosse, WI
Evening in La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
6:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Partly Cloudy
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 27 at 1:00AM CDT until May 28 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 26 at 8:58PM CDT until May 28 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Como, WI
Evening in Como on Wednesday
Local time
6:00 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Mostly Clear
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 27 at 1:00AM CDT until May 28 at 3:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 26 at 8:58PM CDT until May 28 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
3 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 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
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route leans heavily into highway driving, with 95% of the mileage on interstates. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-90, including a long stretch of 131 miles without needing to exit. While the profile is highway-focused, the transition from I-90 to I-39 and then onto WI-11 will offer slight variations in the road's feel. Expect a steady pace for most of the drive, minimizing the need for complex navigation.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
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.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 207.8 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 175.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
635 ft
Total Descent
387 ft
Highest Point
1,009 ft
~118.7 mi in
Elevation Range
340 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
Arriving in Como, 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. Total distance: 207.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
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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