La Crosse, WI to Strongs Prairie, WI is 80.1 miles and takes about 1h 43m via I 90 and State Highway 80, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This short trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. The drive is primarily highway-focused, making it a straightforward and quick journey. You'll want to consider this route if you're looking for an efficient way to cover a relatively short distance without much fuss. It's a practical option for a single-day trip.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40 miles from La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
55.1 mi
59m
State Highway 80
9.6 mi
13m
WI 16
4.5 mi
8m
State Highway 21
4.5 mi
6m
South Main Street
1.2 mi
1m
21st Avenue
1 mi
3m
West 3rd Street
1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 55.1 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between La Crosse, WI and Strongs Prairie, 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 61Toward 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
4.5 mi·6 min·State Highway 21
16
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
1.0 mi·3 min·21st Avenue
17
Turn left onto Chicago Drive
85 ft·3 sec·Chicago Drive
18
Arrive at destination
Chicago Drive
Trip Plan
Given the short 1h 43m duration and 80.1-mile distance, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can easily depart anytime, but leaving in the morning allows for a relaxed pace. There are no specific recommended stops, so feel free to take breaks as needed, perhaps after the longest stretch on I 90. With a fuel cost estimated at $13, it’s a budget-friendly drive. Be mindful of the transition from I 90 to State Highway 80 and WI 16; these changes in road type can sometimes catch drivers by surprise, so pay attention to signage.
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 40 miles from La Crosse, WI, or about 50m 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 18 miles or 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40 miles or 50m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Strongs Prairie, 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.
Day 1
Settle into the route from La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 80.1 miles and 1h 43m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 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 55.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 40 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.7 and 79.1 — 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
4
79.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|21st Avenue
Turn left onto 21st Avenue
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.52 one way
$25.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.75
$27.50
premium
$4.89
$15.41
$30.83
diesel
$5.61
$17.69
$35.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.41
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.01
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.21
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (68% 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 18, 2026
Origin
La Crosse, WI
Late night
in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph38% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT until April 20 at 2:30AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Strongs Prairie, WI
Late night
in Strongs Prairie on Sunday
Local time
5:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°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
1h 43m 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...
21 mi from route
~53 min detour
Free
near mile 80.1
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is largely a highway-focused drive, with 92% of the journey on faster roads. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I 90, including a continuous stretch of 55.1 miles. Expect a consistent pace for most of the trip, as the main roads are designed for efficient travel. While the majority is highway, there's a shift as you transition to State Highway 80 and WI 16, offering a slightly different driving feel for the final leg. It's not an overly complex route, but be prepared for the interstate segment.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 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 80. 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 1h 43m drive. You will face about 9 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.
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 Strongs Prairie, WI, road signs begin pointing toward New Lisbon 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 55.1 miles on I 90. 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 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Strongs Prairie, WI before heading back.
