Origin
La Crosse, WI
Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 56m
Distance
169.1 mi
272 km
Drive Score
9/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$26
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Greenville, WI
Tom Fisk
La Crosse, WI to Greenville, WI is 169.1 miles and takes about 3h 56m via I 90 and State Highway 21, with a fuel budget near $26 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The majority of your time will be spent on the interstate, making for a straightforward transit. With only one recommended stop and a drive time under four hours, this route is ideal for a quick, no-fuss connection between these two Wisconsin cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
84.6 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 46m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 55.1 mi | 59m |
| State Highway 21 | 41.3 mi | 57m |
| State Highway 80 | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| Wisconsin Avenue | 9 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 49 | 8.8 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 22 | 8.7 mi | 12m |
| County Highway A | 8.1 mi | 11m |
| County Road M | 5.5 mi | 13m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Greenville, 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
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto WI 80
Continue on WI 80
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80
Continue on WI 80
Turn right onto WI 21
Continue on WI 21
Continue on WI 21
Continue on WI 21
Turn left onto WI 21; WI 22
Turn right onto WI 21; WI 22; WI 73
Turn left onto WI 22
Turn right onto CTH A
At end of road, turn right onto CTH E
Turn left onto CTH M
Continue on CTH M
Continue on CTH M
Turn left onto WI 49
Continue on WI 110
Continue on WI 96
Continue on WI 96
Enter roundabout onto WI 96
Continue on WI 96
Continue on WI 96
Continue on WI 96
Turn left onto WI 76
Enter roundabout onto WI 76
Continue on WI 76
Turn right onto WI 15
Continue on WI 15
Arrive at destination
Given the 3h 56m duration, leaving La Crosse in the morning allows ample time to reach Greenville well before evening. You'll want to budget around $26 for fuel, and plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 55.1 miles on I 90, so consider making your stop before or after this segment. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the flexibility to depart a bit later if needed, but aim to hit the road early to maximize your daylight.
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 37 miles or 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 84.6 miles or 1h 46m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Greenville, WI than in the middle of the route.
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 169.1 miles and 3h 56m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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.
A short stop after about 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 84.6 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 62.2 and 167.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80 / State Highway 80
Navigation decision point
Enter roundabout onto WI 96 / Wisconsin Avenue toward WIS 96 East: Appleton
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Turn left onto WI 76 / Municipal Drive
Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$26.44 one way
$52.87 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $29.03 | $58.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $32.54 | $65.08 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $37.34 | $74.67 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 50.7 | 0 | $17.76 | $8.12 |
| Efficient EV | 42.3 | 0 | $14.80 | $6.76 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 67.6 | 0 | $23.67 | $10.82 |
Gas CO2
59 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Destination
Late night in Greenville on Tuesday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
41°F
Big Flats, WI
85 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
This drive is mostly highway, with 79% of the 169.1 miles on interstates and state highways. You'll experience a continuous stretch of 55.1 miles on I 90, which means fewer exits and more consistent cruising. The route transitions to surface roads, specifically State Highway 21 and State Highway 80, for the remaining portion, offering a change of pace from the interstate.
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 62.2 miles in.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 56m drive. You will face about 18 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 69.7 miles (WI 80 / State Highway 80): Navigation decision point.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Crosse, WI and Greenville, WI, road signs point toward New Lisbon and Wis 96 East: Appleton.
New Lisbon
Wis 96 East: Appleton
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 169.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (79%). Straightforward navigation.
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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