Origin
La Crosse, WI
Late night in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Poynette, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 20m
Distance
120.5 mi
194 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$19
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 27m
12 PM
2h 25m
3 PM
2h 28m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Poynette, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from La Crosse to Poynette covers 120.5 miles across the Wisconsin countryside. Expect to spend about 2 hours and 20 minutes behind the wheel for this journey, which functions perfectly as a straightforward day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $18, this route is an economical choice for those looking to traverse the Midwest. Since the entire drive stays within Wisconsin, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. Because there are no designated stops on this path, it is best suited for travelers who prefer a direct, uninterrupted commute. Plan your schedule around a single day of travel to maximize your time at the destination.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
60.2 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 12m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 109 mi | 1h 56m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| County Highway CS | 3.1 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| West Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 0.5 mi | <1m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| County Hwys J & CS | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 109 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Poynette, 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
109 mi
·
1 hr 56 min
·
I 90
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 115
Toward CTH CS: Poynette, Lake Wisconsin
9
Keep slight right at fork
204 ft
·
5 sec
10
Turn straight onto CTH J; CTH CS
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
County Hwys J & CS
11
Continue on CTH CS
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
County Highway CS
12
Continue on CTH Q; CTH CS
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
County Hwys Q & CS
13
Turn left onto CTH Q; CTH CS
0.5 mi
·
57 sec
·
South Main Street
14
Arrive at destination
CTH Q; CTH CS
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour and 20-minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. Since this is a non-highway route, keep in mind that travel times may fluctuate slightly based on local traffic conditions along Main Street and CTH CS. Budgeting $18 for gas is a solid baseline, but topping off your tank in La Crosse before departure ensures you won't need to hunt for fuel during the drive. Because there are no programmed stops on this itinerary, ensure you are well-rested before heading out. A helpful tip for this specific route is to familiarize yourself with the transition points between local roads early, as the turn-heavy nature of the trip requires clear navigation.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 60.2 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109 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 27 miles or 36m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 60.2 miles or 1h 12m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Poynette, 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 120.5 miles and 2h 20m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from La Crosse, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 109 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
60 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 27 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 60.2 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 109 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 116.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Turn right
Navigation decision point
4
1.7 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
Losey Boulevard North
Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North
Navigation decision point
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
116.1 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Take the exit toward CTH CS: Poynette, Lake Wisconsin
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 115
Toward CTH CS: Poynette, Lake Wisconsin
5
116.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 12m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.84 one way
$37.68 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
42 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.68 | $41.37 |
| premium | $4.89 | $23.19 | $46.38 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $26.60 | $53.21 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 42.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 36.2 | 0 | $12.65 | $5.78 |
| Efficient EV | 30.1 | 0 | $10.54 | $4.82 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 48.2 | 0 | $16.87 | $7.71 |
Gas CO2
42 kg
EV CO2
14 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.
Destination
Poynette, WI
Late night in Poynette on Sunday
Local time
2:50 AM
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 20m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This journey is defined by its turn-heavy, local nature rather than high-speed interstate cruising. You will navigate primarily via Main Street, Losey Boulevard North, and CTH CS, keeping your focus on the road as you transition through various local segments. Because the highway share is 0%, you should prepare for a slower, more deliberate pace compared to typical freeway driving. The route demands your full attention due to its technical profile, making it a distinct departure from monotonous straight-line travel. Enjoy the engagement of a winding path that keeps you actively connected to the vehicle throughout the entire 120.5-mile experience.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 109 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WI 16. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from La Crosse, WI to Poynette, WI is easy. At 2h 20m with 94% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
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 20m. Total distance: 120.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 109 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 0.7 miles: Navigation decision point; at 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 7.1 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Poynette, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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