Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 38m
Distance
181.7 mi
292 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
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
La Crosse, WI to Lebanon, WI is 181.7 miles and takes about 3h 38m via I 90 and I 94, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest, primarily traversing Wisconsin. Expect a straightforward journey with a high percentage of highway driving, making it a functional trip rather than an overtly scenic one. It’s a solid option if you need to cover ground efficiently between these two points in Wisconsin.
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
90.9 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 45m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 131 mi | 2h 20m |
| I 94 | 26.6 mi | 28m |
| WI 26 | 5.1 mi | 6m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| County Road EM | 3.5 mi | 8m |
| South Church Street | 2.4 mi | 4m |
| North 4th Street | 2 mi | 4m |
| County Highway R | 1.4 mi | 3m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Lebanon, 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 left at fork onto I 94
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Turn left onto WI 26
Continue on WI 26
Take the exit onto WI 26 Business
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 26 Business
Enter roundabout onto WI 26 Business
Continue on WI 26 Business
Turn right onto WI 19; WI 16 Business
Turn left onto CTH R
Continue on CTH R
Turn left onto CTH EM
Turn right onto CTH MM
Continue on CTH MM
Arrive at destination
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 38 minutes, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unforeseen delays. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility; however, consider breaking up the longest stretch of 131 miles on I-90 with a brief rest. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the 92% highway share means fewer opportunities for quick fill-ups compared to a more rural route. The estimated fuel cost of $28 should help with budgeting.
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 40 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.9 miles or 1h 45m 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lebanon, 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 181.7 miles and 3h 38m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
91 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 90.9 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.
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 170.5 — 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 left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WI 26: Watertown, Johnson Creek
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto WI 26 Business toward WI 26 Business, CTH Y: Watertown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 26 Business toward WI 26 Business: Watertown
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Regular Gas
$28.41 one way
$56.81 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $31.19 | $62.38 |
| premium | $4.89 | $34.97 | $69.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $40.12 | $80.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
| Efficient EV | 45.4 | 0 | $15.90 | $7.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72.7 | 0 | $25.44 | $11.63 |
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Morning in Lebanon on Sunday
Local time
9:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
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
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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.
This route is heavily focused on the highway, with 92% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-90 and I-94. You'll experience long, uninterrupted stretches, including one segment of 131 miles primarily on I-90. The character is consistently that of a highway-focused drive, meaning you'll encounter higher speeds and limited exits compared to rural byways. The road maintains this character for the majority of its 181.7 miles, offering a predictable driving experience.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 90.
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 181.7 miles you will encounter 14 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 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 164.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Crosse, WI and Lebanon, WI, road signs point toward Johnson Creek and Cth Y: Watertown.
Johnson Creek
Cth Y: Watertown
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).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 38m. Total distance: 181.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 38m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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