Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0 mi from route
Trip from La Crosse, WI to La Grange, 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
3h 42m
Distance
188.3 mi
303 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 30m
★
6 AM
3h 43m
8 AM
4h 8m
10 AM
3h 52m
12 PM
3h 49m
3 PM
3h 53m
5 PM
4h 7m
8 PM
3h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Grange, WI
Majkel Berger
Trip Overview
La Crosse, WI to La Grange, WI is 188.3 miles and takes about 3 hours 42 minutes via I 90, I 39, and County Highway N, with a fuel budget near $29 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward trip connecting two points within Wisconsin, both in the Midwest region. Expect a predominantly highway experience for most of the drive, making it an efficient way to travel between these two locations. It's a single-day trip that won't require an overnight stay, allowing for flexibility in your schedule.
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
94.1 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 48m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 131 mi | 2h 20m |
| I 39 | 22.1 mi | 23m |
| County Highway N | 10.6 mi | 14m |
| Iron Brigade Memorial Highway | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 59 | 4 mi | 6m |
| Stephen Ambrose Memorial Highway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| US 51 | 2.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 131 mi, about 2h 20m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,282 veh/hr typical · worst 1,894
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
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 La Grange, 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
22 mi
·
23 min
·
I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit onto US 51
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
US 51
Exit 160
Toward US 51, WI 73, WI 106, I 39 Alternate: Edgerton
10
Continue on US 51
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
US 51
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn left onto Jenson Street
332 ft
·
16 sec
·
Jenson Street
12
Turn right onto York Road
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
York Road
13
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Fulton Street
14
Continue on WI 59
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 59
15
Enter roundabout onto WI 59
137 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 59
16
Continue on WI 59
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
State Highway 59
17
Enter roundabout onto WI 59
115 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 59
18
Continue on WI 59
425 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 59
19
Enter roundabout onto WI 59
108 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 59
20
Continue on WI 59
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 59
Use the straight lane.
21
Turn left onto CTH N
11 mi
·
14 min
·
County Highway N
22
Continue on CTH N
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East County Road N
23
Continue on CTH S
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
East County Road N
24
Turn right onto US 12; WI 89
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Stephen Ambrose Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Continue on US 12
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
Iron Brigade Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn left onto CTH H
130 ft
·
3 sec
·
County Highway H
27
Arrive at destination
CTH H
Trip Plan
Given the 3 hour 42 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day, so you can leave whenever you're ready. The estimated fuel cost is $29, so budget accordingly before you depart. With only one recommended stop and a mostly highway profile, you can cover long distances quickly. The longest stretch is 131 miles on I 90, so plan to refuel before you hit that segment if you prefer not to stop mid-way. Since it’s a relatively short drive, you have the flexibility to make spontaneous stops if something catches your eye.
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 94.1 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 48m 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 41 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 94.1 miles or 1h 48m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Grange, 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 188.3 miles and 3h 42m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
94 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 94.1 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
0.1 mi from route
Portage Rest Area 11
0.1 mi from route
Poynette Rest Area 12
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
Pleasant Springs Travel Plaza
0.2 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
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 165.5 — 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
160.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 59m in
|
US 51
Take the exit onto US 51 toward US 51, WI 73, WI 106, I 39 Alternate: Edgerton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 160
Toward US 51, WI 73, WI 106, I 39 Alternate: Ed...
5
165.4 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
WI 59 / State Highway 59
Enter roundabout onto WI 59 / State Highway 59
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
165.5 mi into trip
|
~3h 10m in
|
WI 59 / State Highway 59
Enter roundabout onto WI 59 / State Highway 59
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.31 one way
$62.61 round trip
$4.22/gal
25.4 MPG avg
66 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.60 | $34.10 | $68.20 |
| premium | $5.18 | $38.42 | $76.85 |
| diesel | $5.35 | $39.66 | $79.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.77 | $9.04 |
| Efficient EV | 47.1 | 0 | $16.48 | $7.53 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 75.3 | 0 | $26.36 | $12.05 |
Gas CO2
66 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Afternoon in La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Clear
NE 5 to 9 mph
28% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 8:41PM CDT until May 27 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 27 at 5:37PM CDT until May 28 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
La Grange, WI
Afternoon in La Grange on Wednesday
Local time
4:04 PM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Partly Cloudy
NE 5 to 10 mph
9% chance
Live forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued May 27 at 8:41PM CDT until May 27 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 27 at 5:37PM 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
6 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
3h 42m 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
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 77.9
Park Closure: Devil’s Lake Segment — Balanced Rock Trail Closed May 4–8
Park Closure: Lodi Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is 87% highway, meaning you'll be on high-speed roads for the vast majority of the 188.3 miles. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 131 miles, primarily on I 90. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically County Highway N, for the final portion of the trip. With a high highway share and a long stretch on I 90, anticipate a driving experience characterized by consistent speed and potentially frequent exits as you approach your destination.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort
5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 188.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 160.2 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,071 ft
669 ft
Total Climb
701 ft
Total Descent
427 ft
Highest Point
1,071 ft
~121 mi in
Elevation Range
403 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
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 3h 42m. Total distance: 188.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 42m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). 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 16 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
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 160.2 miles (US 51): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.4 hours — manageable with a long break at La Grange, 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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