Trip from La Crosse, WI to Mount Horeb, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 50m
Distance
137.3 mi
221 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$21
one way
EV Charging
Excellent
22 DC fast
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
Mount Horeb, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
La Crosse to Mount Horeb is 137.3 miles and takes about 2h 50m via I 90 and US 12, with a fuel budget near $21 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving you from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward connection between these two points. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily fit this into a weekend or as a segment of a longer trip.
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
68.6 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 21m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 85.7 mi | 1h 31m |
| US 12 | 22 mi | 28m |
| State Highway 78 | 15.5 mi | 22m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| US Highway 14 | 2.1 mi | 2m |
| State Highway 19/78 | 1.4 mi | 2m |
| Phillips Boulevard | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Mills Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Mount Horeb, 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 right at fork
Merge onto US 12
Continue on US 12; WI 60
Continue on US 12; WI 78
Turn right onto WI 78
Continue on WI 78; WI 19
Turn left onto US 14; WI 78
Continue on US 14; WI 78
Turn right onto WI 78; CTH F
Continue on WI 78
Enter roundabout onto WI 78; US 18 Business; US 151 Business
Continue on WI 78; US 18 Business; US 151 Business
Continue on WI 78; US 18 Business; US 151 Business
Turn left onto South 2nd Street
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the short duration of just under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you plenty of daylight to reach Mount Horeb with time to spare. The longest continuous stretch on I 90 is over 85 miles, so plan your break before or after this segment if you prefer shorter driving periods. With a fuel cost estimate of $21, it's a budget-friendly trip, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the end of the highway portion, around mile 130.
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.
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 30 miles or 39m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.6 miles or 1h 21m 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 12m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mount Horeb, 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 137.3 miles and 2h 50m.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
69 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 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 68.6 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 85.7 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Nearby Places
Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.
Love's Travel Stop
Bangor Rest Area 15
Service Plaza
Sparta Rest Area 16
Road Ranger
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 105 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 116.4 — 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
Take the exit toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Merge onto US 12
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Turn right onto WI 78 / State Highway 78
Lane positioning matters here
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.47 one way
$42.93 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $23.57 | $47.14 |
| premium | $4.89 | $26.42 | $52.84 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $30.31 | $60.63 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$21
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$46–$71
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
EV Charging Along Route
22 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent
Culver's - Tesla Supercharger
Wisconsin Dells, WI
12 DCFC
Lake Delton, WI Rechargery Relay - Gasser Rd
Lake Delton, WI
10 DCFC
Taphouse Twenty - Tesla Supercharger
Tomah, WI
8 DCFC
Midwest Prairie Business Center - Tesla Supercharger
Onalaska, WI
6 DCFC
Culver's of Mauston - Tesla Supercharger
Mauston, WI
6 DCFC
Kwik Trip #762
La Crosse, WI
4 DCFC
Dahl Ford
Onalaska, WI
4 DCFC
Kwik Trip #1048
West Salem, WI
4 DCFC
Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 41.2 | 0 | $14.42 | $6.59 |
| Efficient EV | 34.3 | 0 | $12.01 | $5.49 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 54.9 | 0 | $19.22 | $8.79 |
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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
Night in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Destination
Mount Horeb, WI
Night in Mount Horeb on Saturday
Local time
11:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 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
2h 50m on the road
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.
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?
Expect a highly efficient drive, as 96% of this route is on highways. You'll cover a significant stretch of 85.7 miles on I 90 before transitioning. The shift to surface roads will occur later in the trip, offering a change of pace. The prevalence of highway driving means you'll encounter frequent exits and on-ramps for much of the way.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 12. You will hit about 10 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 137.3 miles you will encounter 10 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 92.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93 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.
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 Mount Horeb, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Delton along the way.
Lake Delton
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 2h 50m. Total distance: 137.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). 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, NREL for EV charging, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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