Origin
La Crosse, WI
Night in La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from La Crosse, WI to Stevens Point, 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 40m
Distance
115.4 mi
186 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 29m
★
6 AM
2h 40m
8 AM
3h 1m
10 AM
2h 47m
12 PM
2h 45m
3 PM
2h 48m
5 PM
3h 0m
8 PM
2h 34m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Stevens Point, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 115.8-mile journey from La Crosse to Stevens Point, Wisconsin, is a straightforward drive that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 13 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $18, it's an economical option for a day trip within the Midwest. The route primarily utilizes local roads for much of its length, suggesting a more involved driving experience than a simple highway cruise. Since it's a relatively short distance and the drive time is under three hours, this trip is perfectly suited for a single day, allowing for plenty of flexibility in your schedule.
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
57.7 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 | 38.6 mi | 41m |
| State Highway 173 | 34 mi | 49m |
| State Highway 66 | 12.7 mi | 17m |
| WI 16 | 4.5 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 21 | 4 mi | 5m |
| WI 13 | 3 mi | 4m |
| I 94 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 54 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 38.6 mi, about 41m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Stevens Point, 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
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 90
8
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 45
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
9
Merge onto I 94
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 94
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 143
Toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
11
Turn right onto WI 21
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East McCoy Boulevard
12
Continue on WI 21
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 21
13
Turn left onto WI 173
24 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 173
14
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 173
15
Continue on WI 80; WI 173
410 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 80
16
Turn right onto WI 173
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 173
17
Continue on CTH G
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G
18
At end of road, turn right onto WI 54
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 54
19
Continue on WI 54
1.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Letendre Avenue
20
At end of road, turn left onto WI 54; WI 73
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Wisconsin River Drive
21
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue South
22
Enter roundabout onto WI 54; WI 73
64 ft
·
1 sec
·
2nd Avenue South
23
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
2nd Avenue South
24
Turn left onto WI 13; WI 73
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
West Riverview Expressway
25
Continue on WI 13; WI 34
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
WI 13; WI 34
26
Turn right onto WI 66
13 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 66
27
Continue on WI 66
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
West Clark Street
28
Continue on WI 66
0.6 mi
·
58 sec
·
West Clark Street
29
Continue on WI 66
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
Clark Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
30
Turn left onto Philips Street
404 ft
·
19 sec
·
Philips Street
31
Turn left onto WI 66
0.1 mi
·
20 sec
·
Main Street
32
Arrive at destination
WI 66
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour and 13-minute duration for the 115.8-mile trip, you have the flexibility to leave whenever suits you best. With a fuel cost of around $18, you won't need to worry too much about frequent stops for gas. Since this is a 'turn-heavy local drive' with no highway percentage, be sure to keep your navigation app handy for the many turns. There are no designated stops in the data, so plan to make any necessary breaks for stretching or snacks when you see convenient opportunities along the local roads.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 57.7 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 12m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 38.6 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 25 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 57.7 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 2h 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stevens Point, 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 115.4 miles and 2h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 38.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
58 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 25 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 57.7 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 175 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 115.3 — 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
45.7 mi into trip
|
~56m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 45
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
6
49.4 mi into trip
|
~1h in
Take the exit toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143
Toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
5
93.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 5m in
|
WI 54; WI 73 / Wisconsin River Drive
At end of road, turn left onto WI 54; WI 73 / Wisconsin River Drive
Navigation decision point
5
115.3 mi into trip
|
~2h 39m in
|
WI 66 / Main Street
Turn left onto WI 66 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.04 one way
$36.08 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
40 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $19.81 | $39.62 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.21 | $44.42 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.48 | $50.96 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 40.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 34.6 | 0 | $12.12 | $5.54 |
| Efficient EV | 28.9 | 0 | $10.10 | $4.62 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.2 | 0 | $16.16 | $7.39 |
Gas CO2
40 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (65% 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
Stevens Point, WI
Night in Stevens Point on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
23 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 40m 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 'turn-heavy local drive' for this 115.8-mile route, with 0% of the journey on highways. You'll start on Main Street and Losey Boulevard North in La Crosse before transitioning onto I-94 West, but the majority of this trip is on local roads. This means you'll be navigating more turns and potentially dealing with varying speed limits as you pass through communities. The absence of long highway stretches means you won't encounter a 'longest stretch' of uninterrupted driving; instead, anticipate a more engaged and varied experience behind the wheel.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 38.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 173. 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 2h 40m drive. You will face about 17 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 45.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between La Crosse, WI and Stevens Point, WI, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Necedah.
Saint Paul
45.7 mi in
|
~56m
Necedah
49.4 mi in
|
~1h
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 40m. Total distance: 115.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 40m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (89%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 38.6 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 1.7 miles (Losey Boulevard North): Navigation decision point; at 45.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 49.4 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Stevens Point, 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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