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Trip from La Crosse, WI to Seymour, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Jun 4, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

4h 15m

Distance

185.2 mi

298 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$31

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 2m ★
6 AM
4h 15m
8 AM
4h 42m
10 AM
4h 24m
12 PM
4h 22m
3 PM
4h 26m
5 PM
4h 40m
8 PM
4h 7m

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 Seymour, WI, WI

Seymour, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

La Crosse, WI to Seymour, WI is 185.2 miles and takes about 4h 15m via I 90 and State Highways, 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 primarily highway driving, making it a straightforward option for a single-day excursion. You'll spend most of your time on interstates and state highways, so expect a consistent pace for most of the 4-hour-plus drive. It's a practical choice if you're looking for a direct connection between these two Wisconsin cities.

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

92.6 miles from La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 58m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 55.1 mi 59m
State Highway 21 41.3 mi 57m
State Highway 54 29 mi 42m
State Highway 22 24.6 mi 36m
State Highway 80 9.6 mi 13m
State Highway 22/54 6.6 mi 9m
WI 16 4.5 mi 8m
South Main Street 2.4 mi 3m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 55.1 mi, about 59m

Traffic on I-90

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 16 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~1,087 veh/hr typical · worst 1,477

Quietest

1 AM

~114 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

9.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

Averaged across 52 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 Seymour, 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

55 mi · 59 min · I 90
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 21 sec
Exit 61 Toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
9

Keep slight left at fork

91 ft · 6 sec
10

Turn left onto WI 80

0.4 mi · 40 sec · East Bridge Street
11

Continue on WI 80

6.8 mi · 9 min · State Highway 80
12

At end of road, turn left onto WI 80

2.8 mi · 4 min · State Highway 80
13

Continue on WI 80

1.2 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
14

Turn right onto WI 21

1.0 mi · 1 min · West 3rd Street
15

Continue on WI 21

29 mi · 40 min · State Highway 21
16

Continue on WI 21

0.5 mi · 49 sec · Wautoma Road
17

Continue on WI 21

12 mi · 16 min · State Highway 21
18

Turn left onto WI 21; WI 22

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Cambridge Street
19

Turn right onto WI 21; WI 22; WI 73

0.1 mi · 32 sec · West Main Street
20

Turn left onto WI 22

24 mi · 36 min · State Highway 22
21

Continue on WI 22; CTH K

0.4 mi · 33 sec · Western Avenue South
22

Continue on WI 22; CTH K

0.3 mi · 29 sec · State Highway 22
23

Continue on Lakeside Parkway

0.7 mi · 1 min · Lakeside Parkway
24

Turn left onto South Main Street

0.2 mi · 21 sec · South Main Street
25

Turn right onto Lake Street

0.4 mi · 46 sec · Lake Street
26

Turn straight onto School Street

0.1 mi · 14 sec · School Street
27

Continue on Royalton Street

1.9 mi · 3 min · Royalton Street
28

Enter roundabout

118 ft · 1 sec
Toward WI 22 North, WI 54 East
29

Continue

77 ft · 2 sec
Toward WI 22 North, WI 54 East
30

Turn straight onto WI 22; WI 54

6.6 mi · 9 min · State Highway 22/54
31

Continue on WI 54

9.9 mi · 14 min · State Highway 54
32

Continue on WI 54

0.1 mi · 11 sec · West Fairview Drive
33

Continue on WI 54

0.9 mi · 1 min · East Fairview Drive
34

Continue on WI 54

7.9 mi · 11 min · State Highway 54
35

Continue on WI 54

1.0 mi · 1 min · Rexford Avenue
36

Continue on WI 54

5.4 mi · 8 min · State Highway 54
37

Continue on WI 54

1.1 mi · 1 min · West State Street
38

Continue on WI 54

5.8 mi · 8 min · State Highway 54
39

Turn left onto WI 54

192 ft · 8 sec · State Highway 54
40

At end of road, turn straight onto WI 55

1.0 mi · 1 min · South Main Street
41

Turn left onto CTH G

74 ft · 2 sec · West Pearl Street
42

Arrive at destination

CTH G

Trip Plan

Given the 4h 15m driving time, this is comfortably a one-day trip, so you can leave anytime that suits your schedule. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight and allow for any unexpected delays. There's only one recommended stop, so you can either make it a quick break or push through if you prefer. The fuel cost is estimated at $29, so factor that into your budget. Since most of the drive is on I 90 and state highways, keep an eye out for services as you approach the latter half of the trip, especially as you transition off the interstate.

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 92.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.1 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 41 miles or 51m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 92.6 miles or 1h 58m 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 25m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Seymour, 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 185.2 miles and 4h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 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 55.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Dakota, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Dakota, WI

93 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

Wilton, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Strongs Prairie, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 92.6 miles from La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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.

Highway 13 & 21 Wayside

0 mi from route

Love's Travel Stop

0.1 mi from route

Bangor Rest Area 15

0.1 mi from route

Sparta Rest Area 16

0.1 mi from route

Road Ranger

0.2 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 145.4 — 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

6
62.2 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Take the exit toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon

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

Exit 61 Toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
5
62.4 mi into trip | ~1h 14m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
69.7 mi into trip | ~1h 24m in | WI 80 / State Highway 80

At end of road, turn left onto WI 80 / State Highway 80

Navigation decision point

6
145.4 mi into trip | ~3h 16m in

Enter roundabout toward WI 22 North, WI 54 East

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward WI 22 North, WI 54 East

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$30.79 one way

$61.58 round trip

$4.22/gal 25.4 MPG avg 65 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.60 $33.54 $67.08
premium $5.18 $37.79 $75.58
diesel $5.35 $39.01 $78.02

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$31

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$56–$81

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 64.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 55.6 0 $19.45 $8.89
Efficient EV 46.3 0 $16.21 $7.41
EV Truck/SUV 74.1 0 $25.93 $11.85

Gas CO2

65 kg

EV CO2

22 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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Jun 1, 2026

Origin

La Crosse, WI

Evening in La Crosse on Wednesday

Local time

7:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

60°F

Scattered Rain Showers

E 1 mph 34% chance Live forecast

Destination

Seymour, WI

Evening in Seymour on Wednesday

Local time

7:02 PM

CDT

Current temp

52°F

Partly Cloudy

NW 1 mph 0% chance 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

8 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

4h 15m on the road

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.

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...

3 mi from route ~8 min detour Free near mile 102.2
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?

With 93% of this drive on highways, you'll be on high-speed roads for the majority of the 185.2 miles. The longest continuous stretch on a highway is 55.1 miles on I 90. You'll transition to State Highway 21 and then State Highway 54, where the exit density might decrease as you move from interstate to state highway cruising. Expect mostly rural and suburban scenery during this section.

93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.1 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 21. 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 Effort 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a straightforward 4h 15m drive. You will face about 15 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 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,001 ft 669 ft

Total Climb

447 ft

Total Descent

327 ft

Highest Point

1,001 ft

~92.6 mi in

Elevation Range

332 ft

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 Seymour, WI, road signs begin pointing toward New Lisbon along the way.

New Lisbon

62.2 mi in | ~1h 14m

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

  • St. Rose of Viterbo Convent — historic church in Wisconsin, United States
  • La Crosse station — train station in La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
  • Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America

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 4h 15m. Total distance: 185.2 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

4h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 55.1 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 5 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.

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 62.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 62.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.

Possible but tiring. At 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.5 hours — manageable with a long break at Seymour, 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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