This 180.3-mile drive from La Crosse, Wisconsin to Saint Peter, Wisconsin is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day. Expect to spend about 3 hours and 45 minutes on the road, primarily utilizing I-90 and WI-33. With a fuel cost estimated around $28, this route offers an economical option for travelers within the Midwest region. The drive is efficient, with 93% of it on highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without extensive detours. Consider this a solid option if you're looking for a direct and manageable 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
90.1 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
99.6 mi
1h 46m
WI 33
33.4 mi
49m
US 151
30.5 mi
37m
County Road C
6 mi
8m
WI 16
4.5 mi
8m
County Highway WH
2.6 mi
6m
Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
West Avenue South
0.7 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 99.6 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Saint Peter, 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
100 mi·1 hr 46 min·I 90
Use the straight lane.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 106Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
9
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft·4 sec
10
Turn straight onto WI 33
33 mi·49 min·WI 33
11
Turn right onto CTH A; CTH C
0.3 mi·34 sec·East State Street
12
Continue on CTH A; CTH C
0.2 mi·22 sec·County Road A
13
Turn left onto CTH C
6.0 mi·8 min·County Road C
14
Take the ramp
99 ft·4 sec
Toward US 151 South: Sun Prairie
15
Merge onto US 151
136 ft·1 sec·US 151
16
Take the exit
329 ft·17 sec
Toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac
17
Turn left onto US 151
28 mi·33 min·US 151
18
Turn straight onto US 151
2.8 mi·3 min·US 151
19
Turn right onto CTH WH
2.6 mi·6 min·County Highway WH
20
Turn left onto CTH QQ
0.2 mi·24 sec·County Road QQ
21
Arrive at destination
CTH QQ
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 3-hour and 45-minute duration, this route is ideal for a day trip, offering flexibility in your departure time. You'll want to keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 99.6-mile segment on I-90, as there's only one designated stop recommended. Planning your fuel and rest stops in advance will ensure a smooth experience. With a fuel cost around $28, it’s an affordable leg of any trip. Remember to check for any potential construction or traffic delays before you set off.
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 90.1 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.6 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 90.1 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 3h 2m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Saint Peter, 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 180.3 miles and 3h 45m.
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 99.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 90.1 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 99.6 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 13
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 146.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
106.7 mi into trip|~2h 1m in
Take the exit toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106
Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
5
106.9 mi into trip|~2h 2m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
146.9 mi into trip|~3h 1m in
Take the exit toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.19 one way
$56.38 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg63 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.95
$61.90
premium
$4.89
$34.70
$69.39
diesel
$5.61
$39.81
$79.62
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.1
0
$18.93
$8.65
Efficient EV
45.1
0
$15.78
$7.21
EV Truck/SUV
72.1
0
$25.24
$11.54
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.
Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026
Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
S 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Dense Fog Advisory
Dense Fog Advisory issued April 16 at 6:23PM CDT until April 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 4:45PM CDT until April 19 at 1:27AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Destination
Saint Peter, WI
Morning
in Saint Peter on Sunday
Local time
9:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
11 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 45m 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 80.8
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
For the most part, you'll be on high-speed highways, with 93% of this trip dedicated to them. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 99.6 miles on I-90, offering a consistent pace. While the route is predominantly highway-focused, you will transition to WI-33 and US-151, which might introduce slightly different driving dynamics. This drive offers a steady progression, allowing for a comfortable cruising speed for most of the journey.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WI 33. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near Losey Boulevard North.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 45m drive. You will face about 13 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 106.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Saint Peter, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Baraboo along the way.
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.
The longest stretch is about 99.6 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 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; at 106.7 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 3.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Saint Peter, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
