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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

Save up to 33 min
4 AM
2h 40m ★
6 AM
2h 51m
8 AM
3h 13m
10 AM
2h 59m
12 PM
2h 56m
3 PM
3h 0m
5 PM
3h 12m
8 PM
2h 44m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Downtown Mount Horeb, WI, WI

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
Longest stretch: I 90 — 85.7 mi, about 1h 31m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

86 mi · 1 hr 31 min · I 90
Use the straight lane.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 29 sec
Exit 92 Toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
9

Keep slight right at fork

0.2 mi · 29 sec
10

Merge onto US 12

22 mi · 27 min · US 12
Use the straight lane.
11

Continue on US 12; WI 60

1.2 mi · 2 min · Phillips Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
12

Continue on US 12; WI 78

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 12; WI 78
13

Turn right onto WI 78

6.5 mi · 9 min · State Highway 78
Use the right lane.
14

Continue on WI 78; WI 19

1.4 mi · 2 min · State Highway 19/78
15

Turn left onto US 14; WI 78

2.1 mi · 2 min · US Highway 14
16

Continue on US 14; WI 78

0.3 mi · 38 sec · State Street
17

Turn right onto WI 78; CTH F

1.1 mi · 1 min · Mills Street
18

Continue on WI 78

9.0 mi · 13 min · State Highway 78
19

Enter roundabout onto WI 78; US 18 Business; US 151 Business

47 ft · 0 sec · Springdale Street
20

Continue on WI 78; US 18 Business; US 151 Business

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Springdale Street
21

Continue on WI 78; US 18 Business; US 151 Business

0.2 mi · 47 sec · East Main Street
22

Turn left onto South 2nd Street

20 ft · 0 sec · South 2nd Street
23

Arrive at destination

South 2nd Street

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.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 21m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 85.7 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 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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 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 85.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Delton, WI

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

Sparta, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mauston, WI

Meal break

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 check

Top 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.

Lyndon Station Rest Area 9

0 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

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

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 10

5 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.

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.
6
92.8 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Take the exit toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton

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

Exit 92 Toward US 12: Baraboo, Lake Delton
5
93 mi into trip | ~1h 47m in

Keep slight right at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
93.2 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | US 12

Merge onto US 12

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
116.4 mi into trip | ~2h 19m in | WI 78 / State Highway 78

Turn right onto WI 78 / State Highway 78

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.47 one way

$42.93 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
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

Tesla

12 DCFC

Lake Delton, WI Rechargery Relay - Gasser Rd

Lake Delton, WI

IONNA

10 DCFC

Taphouse Twenty - Tesla Supercharger

Tomah, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Midwest Prairie Business Center - Tesla Supercharger

Onalaska, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Culver's of Mauston - Tesla Supercharger

Mauston, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Kwik Trip #762

La Crosse, WI

KWIK_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Dahl Ford

Onalaska, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Kwik Trip #1048

West Salem, WI

KWIK_CHARGE

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 5 KWIK_CHARGE: 4 Tesla: 4 Blink Network: 2 EV Connect: 1 FORD_CHARGE: 1 FLO: 1 ZEFNET: 1 Electrify America: 1 eVgo Network: 1 IONNA: 1

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.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Night in La Crosse on Saturday

Local time

11:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mount Horeb, WI

Night in Mount Horeb on Saturday

Local time

11:40 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

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

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 80.5
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
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 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.

96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 85.7 mi on I 90.

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.

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 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.

On the drive from La Crosse, WI to Mount Horeb, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Lake Delton along the way.

Lake Delton

92.8 mi in | ~1h 47m

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

The longest stretch is about 85.7 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 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.

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

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