Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 24m
Distance
202.3 mi
326 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$32
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
Port Washington, WI
Tom Fisk
La Crosse, WI to Port Washington, WI is 202.3 miles and takes about 4h 24m via I 90 and State Highways 33/16, with a fuel budget near $32 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, traversing the Midwest region. It's a straightforward drive, primarily on the interstate, making it an efficient option for getting from point A to point B. Consider this route if you're looking for a direct journey with minimal complexity, where the focus is on reaching your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
101.1 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 56m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 99.6 mi | 1h 46m |
| State Highway 33 | 36 mi | 52m |
| State Highway 16 | 22.6 mi | 31m |
| US 151 | 13.4 mi | 15m |
| West Washington Street | 5.6 mi | 11m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| WI 33 | 4 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 51 & State Highway 16 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Port Washington, 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
Turn straight onto WI 33
Turn right onto US 51; WI 16
Continue on US 51; WI 16
Turn left onto WI 16
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
Turn left
Merge onto US 151
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Turn straight onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on Washington Street
Turn left onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Turn straight onto WI 33
Turn right onto WI 33; CTH E
Continue on WI 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33; CTH W
Continue on WI 33; WI 144
Continue on WI 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Enter roundabout onto WI 33
Continue on WI 33
Turn right onto South Webster Street
Arrive at destination
With a drive time of just over 4 hours, this route is easily completed in a single day. Leaving La Crosse in the morning should give you ample time to reach Port Washington before evening. While the drive is not excessively long, the longest uninterrupted stretch on I 90 is nearly 100 miles, so plan for a fuel stop before you hit that segment if your tank is low. Given the manageable duration, you have flexibility to depart when convenient, but aim to leave mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and allow for a relaxed pace.
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 45 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 101.1 miles or 1h 56m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Washington, 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 202.3 miles and 4h 24m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 45 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 101.1 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 99.6 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 152.4 — 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 WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
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
Take the exit toward WI 33: Beaver Dam, Horicon
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
Regular Gas
$31.63 one way
$63.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.73 | $69.45 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.93 | $77.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $44.67 | $89.33 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$32
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$57–$82
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.7 | 0 | $21.24 | $9.71 |
| Efficient EV | 50.6 | 0 | $17.70 | $8.09 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.9 | 1 | $28.32 | $12.95 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 kg (66% 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
Late night in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
5:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Partly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Port Washington on Sunday
Local time
5:20 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
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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 drive is largely highway-focused, with 90% of the route utilizing major roadways. Expect a significant stretch of 99.6 miles on I 90, offering a consistent pace. As you transition to State Highway 33 and then State Highway 16, the character may shift slightly, but the overall feel remains that of a primary road journey. You'll experience a high proportion of highway driving, suitable for maintaining speed and covering distance effectively.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 33. You will hit about 18 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 202.3 miles you will encounter 18 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 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 106.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Crosse, WI and Port Washington, WI, road signs point toward Baraboo and Horicon.
Baraboo
Horicon
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 4h 24m. Total distance: 202.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). 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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