Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0 mi from route
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Orfordville, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 34m
Distance
179.9 mi
290 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 22m
★
6 AM
3h 34m
8 AM
3h 59m
10 AM
3h 43m
12 PM
3h 40m
3 PM
3h 44m
5 PM
3h 58m
8 PM
3h 27m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Orfordville, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
La Crosse, WI to Orfordville, WI is 180 miles and takes about 3 hours 34 minutes via I 90, with a fuel budget near $29 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 route is predominantly highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a day trip. With a recommended single day of travel, you'll likely find this a convenient way to connect these two points without needing an overnight stay. Consider this for a quick transit between cities in the Badger State.
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 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 131 mi | 2h 20m |
| South Park Street | 13.9 mi | 16m |
| State Highway 213 | 7.8 mi | 10m |
| South Beltline Highway | 5.3 mi | 7m |
| US Highway 14 | 4.9 mi | 6m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| I 39 | 3.8 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 59 | 2.4 mi | 4m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 131 mi, about 2h 20m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,290 veh/hr typical · worst 1,940
Quietest
2 AM
~155 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 103 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 Orfordville, 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
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 142A
Toward US 12 West, US 18 West: Madison
10
Merge onto US 12; US 18
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
South Beltline Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 261
Toward US 151 North, US 14 East: Park Street, Oregon
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
140 ft
·
5 sec
Toward US 18 Alternate West, US 151 Alternate South, US 14 East: Fitchburg, Oregon
Use the left lane.
13
Turn left onto US 14
14 mi
·
16 min
·
South Park Street
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 14
115 ft
·
9 sec
·
US Highway 14
15
Continue on US 14
4.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US Highway 14
16
Continue on US 14; WI 59
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
US 14; WI 59
17
Continue on US 14; WI 59
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Union Street
18
Turn right onto WI 213
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
North Madison Street
19
Continue on WI 59; WI 213
2.4 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 59
20
Continue on WI 213
7.8 mi
·
10 min
·
State Highway 213
21
Continue on WI 213
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West Beloit Street
22
Turn sharp left onto South Main Street
263 ft
·
10 sec
·
South Main Street
23
Turn right
123 ft
·
8 sec
24
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 3 hours and 34 minutes, this route is well-suited for a same-day trip. You could comfortably leave in the morning and arrive in Orfordville by midday. With only one stop recommended and a fuel cost estimated at $29, planning is minimal. The longest stretch without a major road change is 131 miles on I 90, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment. Since the drive is under four hours, you have flexibility to depart later in the day if needed.
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 90 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 44m 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 40 miles or 50m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90 miles or 1h 44m 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 Orfordville, 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 179.9 miles and 3h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 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
90 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 40 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 90 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
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
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
Rest Area
2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 135 decision points cluster between mile 7.1 and 148.3 — 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
141.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward US 12 West, US 18 West: Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 142A
Toward US 12 West, US 18 West: Madison
8
148 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Take the exit toward US 151 North, US 14 East: Park Street, Oregon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 261
Toward US 151 North, US 14 East: Park Street, O...
9
148.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 48m in
Keep slight left at fork toward US 18 Alternate West, US 151 Alternate South, US 14 East: Fitchburg, Oregon
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward US 18 Alternate West, US 151 Alternate S...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$30.01 one way
$60.02 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
63 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $32.62 | $65.23 |
| premium | $5.26 | $37.25 | $74.50 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $43.76 | $87.53 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 62.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 54 | 0 | $18.89 | $8.64 |
| Efficient EV | 45 | 0 | $15.74 | $7.20 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 72 | 0 | $25.19 | $11.51 |
Gas CO2
63 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
9:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
S 3 to 12 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:55AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:54AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Orfordville, WI
Morning in Orfordville on Sunday
Local time
9:08 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:55AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 8:54AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
74°F
Merrimac, WI
90 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
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
2 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 34m 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 80.6
Caution: Use Caution — Tisch Mills Segment
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend most of your time on the highway, with 86% of the 180-mile drive being on major roads like I 90. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 131 miles on I 90. After that, you'll transition to surface roads, including South Park Street and State Highway 213, for the final portion of the trip. Expect a rural cruising feel for much of the drive.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 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?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and South Park Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.1 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 179.9 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 141.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,059 ft
669 ft
Total Climb
644 ft
Total Descent
424 ft
Highest Point
1,059 ft
~38.6 mi in
Elevation Range
391 ft
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 Orfordville, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Oregon along the way.
Oregon
148 mi in
|
~2h 48m
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
- • La Crosse station — train station in La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
- • St. Rose of Viterbo Convent — historic church in Wisconsin, United States
- • Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America
Arriving in Orfordville, WI
Full guide →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 34m. Total distance: 179.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Orfordville, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 141.9 miles: 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 3.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Orfordville, 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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