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Trip from La Crosse, WI to Friendship, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 58m

Distance

91.7 mi

148 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 50m ★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 3m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m

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

Downtown Friendship, WI, WI

Friendship, WI

Gustavo Fring

Trip Overview

This 91.7-mile drive from La Crosse, WI to Friendship, WI is an easy, one-day road trip, taking approximately 1 hour and 58 minutes. Primarily a highway-focused experience, you'll spend about 88% of your time on major roads, making it a quick journey between these two Midwest locations. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $14, which is quite budget-friendly. With no specific stops recommended in the data, this route is ideal for those who prefer a direct journey without planned breaks, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

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

Midpoint

45.8 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 56m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 55.1 mi 59m
State Highway 21 11.2 mi 15m
State Highway 80 9.6 mi 13m
WI 16 4.5 mi 8m
County Road N 3.5 mi 4m
County Road J 1.2 mi 1m
South Main Street 1.2 mi 1m
West 3rd Street 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 55.1 mi, about 59m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

55 mi · 59 min · I 90
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 61 Toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
9

Keep slight left at fork

91 ft · 6 sec
10

Turn left onto WI 80

0.4 mi · 40 sec · East Bridge Street
11

Continue on WI 80

6.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 80
12

At end of road, turn left onto WI 80

2.8 mi · 4 min · State Highway 80
13

Continue on WI 80

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
14

Turn right onto WI 21

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 3rd Street
15

Continue on WI 21

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 21
16

Turn right onto CTH N

3.5 mi · 4 min · County Road N
17

Turn left onto CTH J

1.2 mi · 1 min · County Road J
18

Continue on CTH J

0.8 mi · 2 min · West Lake Street
19

Turn right onto WI 13

0.3 mi · 46 sec · North Main Street
20

Turn right onto West 4th Street

152 ft · 6 sec · West 4th Street
21

Arrive at destination

West 4th Street

Trip Plan

Given the short 1 hour and 58-minute duration for this 91.7-mile trip, you have a lot of flexibility. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day at your destination in Friendship, WI. The $14 fuel cost is minimal, so you shouldn't need to worry too much about refueling stops, though it's always wise to keep an eye on your gauge. Since the longest stretch is over 55 miles, plan for a brief stop before that if you tend to need breaks during longer highway segments. Pay attention to the transition from I-90 to State Highway 21 and then State Highway 80 as you approach Friendship.

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 45.8 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.1 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 20 miles or 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 45.8 miles or 56m 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 33m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Friendship, 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 91.7 miles and 1h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from La Crosse, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 55.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Tomah, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Tomah, WI

46 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

West Salem, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Tomah, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.8 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 11

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 85.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

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

Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

Navigation decision point

6
62.2 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Take the exit toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon

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

Exit 61 Toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
5
62.4 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | WI 80 / State Highway 80

At end of road, turn left onto WI 80 / State Highway 80

Navigation decision point

4
85.8 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | CTH N / County Road N

Turn right onto CTH N / County Road N

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.34 one way

$28.67 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.74 $31.48
premium $4.89 $17.65 $35.29
diesel $5.61 $20.25 $40.49

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.5 0 $9.63 $4.40
Efficient EV 22.9 0 $8.02 $3.67
EV Truck/SUV 36.7 0 $12.84 $5.87

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 kg (66% 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 16, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

55°F

Mostly Clear

S 2 to 8 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Dense Fog Advisory

Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 4:45PM CDT until April 19 at 1:27AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Destination

Friendship, WI

Afternoon in Friendship on Sunday

Local time

4:55 PM

CDT

Current temp

44°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

11 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

1h 58m 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.

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...

13 mi from route ~32 min detour Free near mile 91.7
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
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 predominantly highway-focused drive, with 88% of the 91.7 miles on major roads. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 55.1 miles, likely on I-90, offering a consistent pace. While the profile suggests a highway focus, the route incorporates State Highways 21 and 80, which may offer a slight change in scenery and driving feel after the interstate sections. This blend means you'll experience both efficient highway travel and potentially more local road characteristics as you near your destination.

88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.1 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 21. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Losey Boulevard North.

Driving Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 11 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 Friendship, WI, road signs begin pointing toward New Lisbon along the way.

New Lisbon

62.2 mi in | ~1h 14m

About the Cities

Starting in La Crosse, WI

Full guide →

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).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 91.7 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (88%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 55.1 miles on I 90. 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 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Friendship, 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 NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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