Origin
Lodi, WI
Morning in Lodi on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
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
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Lodi, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
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 .
| 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 |
Step-by-step road directions between Lodi, WI and La Crosse, WI.
Start on WI 113
Turn right onto WI 60
Continue on WI 60
Enter roundabout onto WI 60
Continue on WI 60
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Take the exit
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
Turn right onto CTH F
Turn left onto 16th Street South
Turn right onto Johnson Street
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
Arrive at destination
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.
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.
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.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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.
A short stop after about 28 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
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 checkTop 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.
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.
Enter roundabout onto WI 60 / State Highway 60
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
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
Take the exit toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$19.54 one way
$39.08 round trip
| 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Morning in Lodi on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Destination
Morning in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
7:43 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
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.
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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