Origin
La Crosse, WI
Morning in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Shelby, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
6.6 mi
11 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 13m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
★
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Shelby, WI
John Kostopoulos
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from La Crosse to Shelby, you are looking at a very quick 6.6-mile trip that takes approximately 12 minutes to complete. This short journey is well-suited for a single day, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations or extensive planning. You will primarily navigate via South Avenue, Mormon Coulee Road, and US 14 to reach your destination within the Midwest. With a fuel cost estimate of just $1, this is an incredibly economical drive for any local traveler. It is a straightforward connection between two Wisconsin locations, making it a practical choice for those who need to get from point A to point B without any fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mormon Coulee Road | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| US 14 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| H Helke Road | <0.1 mi | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
Mormon Coulee Road
— 2.6 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Shelby, WI.
1
Start on WI 35
40 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Avenue South
2
Continue on WI 35
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Avenue South
3
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
224 ft
·
6 sec
·
South Avenue
4
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue
5
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
128 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Avenue
6
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
133 ft
·
3 sec
·
Mormon Coulee Road
8
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Mormon Coulee Road
Use the straight lane.
9
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61
211 ft
·
4 sec
·
US 14; US 61
10
Continue on US 14; US 61
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 14; US 61
11
Turn left onto H Helke Road
17 ft
·
0 sec
·
H Helke Road
12
Arrive at destination
H Helke Road
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 6.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0.7 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
1.5 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
4.1 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
US 14; US 61
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
6.6 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
H Helke Road
Turn left onto H Helke Road
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.03 one way
$2.06 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.13 | $2.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.27 | $2.54 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.46 | $2.91 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.69 | $0.32 |
| Efficient EV | 1.7 | 0 | $0.58 | $0.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.92 | $0.42 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Shelby, WI
Morning in Shelby on Tuesday
Local time
7:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
12m 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?
Expect a mixed driving experience as you transition through these local roads. About 37% of this 6.6-mile route consists of highway travel, which provides a bit of variety compared to standard city streets. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch on Mormon Coulee Road, which spans 2.6 miles. Because the total duration is only 12 minutes, the road character shifts quickly from urban segments to the highway portions. You won't face a monotonous interstate grind here, but rather a functional, short-distance commute that keeps you moving efficiently throughout the entire trip.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.6 mi on Mormon Coulee Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue.
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 Shelby, WI is easy. At 12m with 37% 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 (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
740 ft
643 ft
Total Climb
118 ft
Total Descent
82 ft
Highest Point
740 ft
~6.1 mi in
Elevation Range
98 ft
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
This 6.6-mile, 12-minute drive is perfect for a quick weekend getaway, easily doable as a same-day round trip from La Crosse.
Family Friendly
At just 6.6 miles and 12 minutes, this route is short enough to keep kids happy and the 2/10 complexity means easy navigation for the whole family.
Solo Traveler
This 6.6-mile drive is a breeze for a solo traveler, taking only 12 minutes and offering a simple, comfortable distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
With only 6.6 miles and a 12-minute drive time, this is an incredibly straightforward route for a first-time driver, with minimal complexity.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.6 miles on Mormon Coulee Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.3 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 1.5 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Shelby, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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