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Trip from Lodi, WI to La Crosse, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

125 mi

201 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$20

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min
4 AM
2h 15m ★
6 AM
2h 25m
8 AM
2h 44m
10 AM
2h 31m
12 PM
2h 29m
3 PM
2h 32m
5 PM
2h 43m
8 PM
2h 19m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

city in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States

Lodi, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are looking to travel from Lodi to La Crosse, you are in for a straightforward journey across the Midwest. Covering 125 miles, this trip typically takes about 2 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Because the route is primarily highway-focused, it is easily manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $19 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for a quick change of scenery. Whether you are heading out for business or a weekend getaway, the efficiency of this route allows for maximum time at your destination. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

62.5 miles from Lodi, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 9m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 102.6 mi 1h 49m
I 39 10.2 mi 10m
WI 16 4.9 mi 8m
State Highway 60 4 mi 5m
16th Street South 0.8 mi 2m
Main Street 0.7 mi 1m
Losey Boulevard North 0.5 mi 1m
Portage Street 0.4 mi 1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 102.6 mi, about 1h 49m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Lodi, WI and La Crosse, WI.

1

Start on WI 113

34 ft · 5 sec · South Main Street
2

Turn right onto WI 60

0.4 mi · 1 min · Portage Street
3

Continue on WI 60

3.8 mi · 5 min · State Highway 60
4

Enter roundabout onto WI 60

95 ft · 1 sec · State Highway 60
5

Continue on WI 60

0.1 mi · 11 sec · State Highway 60
6

Enter roundabout

226 ft · 4 sec
7

Continue

0.3 mi · 37 sec
8

Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94

10 mi · 10 min · I 39; I 90; I 94
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

39 mi · 41 min · I 90
Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
11

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
12

At end of road, turn left onto WI 16

4.9 mi · 8 min · WI 16
13

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
14

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
15

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
16

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
17

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
18

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to ensure the smoothest transit along the interstates. Given the long 102.6-mile stretch on I-90, plan to check your fuel levels before merging onto the interstate to avoid unnecessary stops. Keep in mind that with no scheduled stops built into the itinerary, you have the freedom to pull over whenever you feel like stretching your legs. Prioritize comfort and steady pacing to make the most of your two-and-a-half-hour drive.

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 62.5 miles from Lodi, WI, or about 1h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 28 miles or 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 62.5 miles or 1h 9m 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 52m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Lodi, 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 Lodi, WI

This is one driving day of about 125 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Lodi, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 102.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Lemonweir, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lemonweir, WI

63 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.

Popular next leg

Lemonweir, WI to La Crosse, WI

73.1 mi · 1h 28m

Pacing Suggestions

Lake Delton, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Mauston, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 62.5 miles from Lodi, 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 102.6 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 4.2 and 117.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
4.2 mi into trip | ~6m in | WI 60 / State Highway 60

Enter roundabout onto WI 60 / State Highway 60

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

5
4.4 mi into trip | ~6m in

Enter roundabout

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

6
14.9 mi into trip | ~18m in | I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
78.4 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in | I 90

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
6
117.5 mi into trip | ~2h 8m in

Take the exit toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

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

Exit 5 Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$19.54 one way

$39.08 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 44 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $21.46 $42.91
premium $4.89 $24.06 $48.11
diesel $5.61 $27.60 $55.20

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$20

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$45–$70

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 43.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $13 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 37.5 0 $13.13 $6.00
Efficient EV 31.3 0 $10.94 $5.00
EV Truck/SUV 50 0 $17.50 $8.00

Gas CO2

44 kg

EV CO2

15 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 Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Lodi, WI

Morning in Lodi on Tuesday

Local time

7:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Morning in La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

7:43 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

12 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

2h 24m 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 very consistent experience on this route, as 97% of your time will be spent on highways. You will rely heavily on I-90 and I-39 to make steady progress across the state. The drive features a significant 102.6-mile stretch on I-90, which defines the bulk of your time behind the wheel. Because this is a highway-focused drive, the pace remains brisk and predictable. While you will transition onto WI-16 to complete your journey, the majority of the trip is characterized by the open, high-speed environment typical of major interstate travel.

97% 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: 102.6 mi on I 90.

How Hard Is This Drive?

4/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 4.2 miles in near WI 60 / State Highway 60.

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 24m 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 4.2 miles (WI 60 / State Highway 60): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.9 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

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 Lodi, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.

Onalaska

117.5 mi in | ~2h 8m

About the Cities

Arriving 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 2h 24m. Total distance: 125 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 24m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Straightforward navigation.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 102.6 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 4.2 miles (WI 60 / State Highway 60): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.9 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at La Crosse, 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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Explore More

Return Trip

La Crosse, WI to Lodi, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

124.4 mi 2h 23m

Explore more options from Lodi, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.