Origin
Montello, WI
Late night in Montello on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Montello, WI to La Crosse, 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 19m
Distance
108.3 mi
174 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 10m
★
6 AM
2h 20m
8 AM
2h 39m
10 AM
2h 26m
12 PM
2h 24m
3 PM
2h 27m
5 PM
2h 38m
8 PM
2h 14m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Montello, WI
Marco Piccinelli
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 108.3-mile drive from Montello to La Crosse, Wisconsin, is a straightforward trip that can easily be completed in about 2 hours and 19 minutes. With 94% of the journey on highways, it's a practical choice for a single day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The estimated fuel cost is around $17, making it an economical option for exploring the Midwest. This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, designed for efficient travel between these two Wisconsin communities. It's a route that prioritizes getting you there comfortably and without fuss.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
54.1 miles from Montello, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 13m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 62.7 mi | 1h 7m |
| State Highway 82 | 28.1 mi | 41m |
| State Highway 23 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| WI 16 | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| Underwood Avenue | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| East Ormsby Street | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 62.7 mi, about 1h 7m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Montello, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on WI 22; WI 23; CTH C
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
·
East Montello Street
2
Continue on WI 23; CTH C
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
West Montello Street
3
Turn slight right onto WI 23; CTH C
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Underwood Avenue
4
Continue on WI 23
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 23
5
Continue on WI 82
3.5 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 82
6
Continue on WI 82
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
East Ormsby Street
7
Continue on WI 82
25 mi
·
36 min
·
State Highway 82
8
Keep slight right at fork
278 ft
·
5 sec
9
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
10
Merge onto I 90; I 94
24 mi
·
25 min
·
I 90; I 94
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 90
Exit 45
Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
13
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
WI 16
14
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
15
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
16
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
17
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
18
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
19
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour and 19-minute duration, this route from Montello to La Crosse offers plenty of flexibility. You can depart in the morning and still have ample daylight for exploration at your destination. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 62.7-mile stretch on I-90, and plan any necessary stops accordingly. Since there are no designated stops in the data, consider making a brief pause in a town along State Highway 23 or 82 if you need a break before reaching La Crosse. The $17 fuel cost is a helpful budget marker for this efficient journey.
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 54.1 miles from Montello, WI, or about 1h 13m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 62.7 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 24 miles or 35m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 54.1 miles or 1h 13m 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 50m
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 Montello, 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 Montello, WI
This is one driving day of about 108.3 miles and 2h 19m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Montello, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 62.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
54 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 54.1 miles from Montello, 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 62.7 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 95 decision points cluster between mile 37.7 and 108.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
37.7 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
7
61.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m 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
100.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 3m 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
4
106.4 mi into trip
|
~2h 14m in
|
CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
108.2 mi into trip
|
~2h 19m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$16.93 one way
$33.86 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
38 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.59 | $37.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $20.84 | $41.68 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $23.91 | $47.82 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 37.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 32.5 | 0 | $11.37 | $5.20 |
| Efficient EV | 27.1 | 0 | $9.48 | $4.33 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 43.3 | 0 | $15.16 | $6.93 |
Gas CO2
38 kg
EV CO2
13 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Late night in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
2:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
33°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 mph
38% chance
Live forecast
43°F
Clifton, WI
54 mi in
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 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 19m 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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 11.2
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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive on this route, with 94% of your journey utilizing major roads like I-90 and State Highways 23 and 82. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 62.7 miles on I-90, offering a good opportunity to settle in and make steady progress. While the majority is highway, the inclusion of state highways may introduce some variation in scenery and pace as you transition. This drive is structured for efficiency, minimizing complex turns and maximizing your time on well-maintained roadways.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 62.7 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 82. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 37.7 miles in.
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 19m 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 37.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.6 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.7 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.
On the drive from Montello, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.
Onalaska
100.7 mi in
|
~2h 3m
About the Cities
Arriving 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 19m. Total distance: 108.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 19m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 62.7 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 37.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 61.6 miles (I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 100.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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