Phillips to La Crosse is 170.7 miles and takes about 4h 27m via State Highway 13, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest journey keeps you within Wisconsin for its entirety, offering a straightforward drive. You'll experience a predominantly highway-focused profile, making it an efficient choice for reaching your destination without extensive detours. Consider this route if you're looking for a practical, single-day trip with minimal complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
85.3 miles from Phillips, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 8m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 13
50.7 mi
1h 10m
State Highway 73
27 mi
46m
State Highway 108
16.5 mi
24m
State Highway 54
14.2 mi
21m
WI 29
12.3 mi
14m
WI 16
11 mi
17m
State Highway 95
8.6 mi
12m
County Highway E
7.8 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 13
— 50.7 mi, about 1h 10m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Phillips, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Beach Road
0.1 mi·33 sec·Beach Road
2
At end of road, turn right onto CTH H
0.4 mi·1 min·County Highway H
3
Continue on CTH H
118 ft·11 sec·County Highway H
4
Turn left onto WI 13
0.9 mi·2 min·North Lake Avenue
5
Continue on WI 13
39 mi·53 min·State Highway 13
Use the straight / left lanes.
6
Continue on WI 13
0.3 mi·33 sec·North 8th Street
7
Enter roundabout onto WI 13
141 ft·8 sec·North 8th Street
8
Continue on WI 13
0.4 mi·57 sec·North 8th Street
9
Continue on WI 13
2.0 mi·4 min·North 8th Street
10
Continue on WI 13
12 mi·17 min·State Highway 13
11
Continue on WI 13
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
12
Turn right onto WI 29 Business
0.9 mi·1 min·East Spruce Street
13
Continue on WI 29 Business
0.2 mi·25 sec·Hiline Avenue
14
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward WI 29 West: Chippewa Falls
15
Merge onto WI 29
12 mi·14 min·WI 29
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·34 sec
Exit 118Toward WI 73 South, CTH T: Withee, Neilsville
17
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 73
11 mi·19 min·State Highway 73
18
Continue on WI 73
2.0 mi·3 min·North Main Street
19
Continue on WI 73
13 mi·22 min·State Highway 73
20
Continue on WI 73
0.6 mi·1 min·Black River Road
21
Continue on WI 73
1.1 mi·1 min·Hewett Street
22
Turn right onto US 10; WI 73
517 ft·22 sec·West Division Street
23
Turn left onto WI 73
3.0 mi·4 min·State Highway 73
24
Turn straight onto WI 95
8.6 mi·12 min·State Highway 95
25
Turn left onto CTH J
3.4 mi·5 min·County Road J
26
Turn left onto CTH K
0.6 mi·1 min·County Highway K
27
Turn right onto CTH E
7.8 mi·13 min·County Highway E
28
At end of road, turn left onto US 12; WI 27
2.6 mi·3 min·US Highway 12
29
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.7 mi·1 min·North Water Street
30
Turn right onto WI 54
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
31
Turn left onto WI 54
0.1 mi·10 sec·South 10th Street
32
Turn right onto WI 54
0.8 mi·1 min·Melrose Street
33
Continue on WI 54
14 mi·21 min·State Highway 54
34
Continue on WI 54
0.9 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
35
Turn straight onto WI 108
0.3 mi·31 sec·Sparta Street
36
Continue on WI 108
5.3 mi·7 min·State Highway 108
37
Continue on WI 108
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 108
38
Turn slight right
212 ft·7 sec
39
Turn straight onto WI 16; CTH C
11 mi·17 min·WI 16; CTH C
40
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
41
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
42
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
43
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
44
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
45
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
Given the manageable 4h 27m duration, this trip is ideal for a single day. Aim for an early morning departure from Phillips to maximize daylight and allow for a relaxed pace. You'll only need one planned stop, so choose it strategically for fuel and a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch of 50.7 miles on State Highway 13, as services might be more spaced out in certain sections.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 85.3 miles from Phillips, WI, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 50.7 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 38 miles or 54m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.3 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 37m
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 Phillips, 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 Phillips, WI
This is one driving day of about 170.7 miles and 4h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 38 miles from Phillips, 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 State Highway 13 for about 50.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 170.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|CTH H / County Highway H
At end of road, turn right onto CTH H / County Highway H
Navigation decision point
5
40.7 mi into trip|~58m in|WI 13 / North 8th Street
Enter roundabout onto WI 13 / North 8th Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
56.5 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the ramp toward WI 29 West: Chippewa Falls
Navigation decision point
Toward WI 29 West: Chippewa Falls
6
69.1 mi into trip|~1h 39m in
Take the exit toward WI 73 South, CTH T: Withee, Neilsville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 118
Toward WI 73 South, CTH T: Withee, Neilsville
5
170.6 mi into trip|~4h 27m 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
$26.69 one way
$53.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg60 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$29.30
$58.60
premium
$4.89
$32.85
$65.70
diesel
$5.61
$37.69
$75.38
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$27
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$52–$77
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 59.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
51.2
0
$17.92
$8.19
Efficient EV
42.7
0
$14.94
$6.83
EV Truck/SUV
68.3
0
$23.90
$10.92
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Phillips, WI
Late night
in Phillips on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Late night
in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
2:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 8 to 16 mph90% chanceLive forecast
Severe Thunderstorm Warning
Severe Thunderstorm Warning issued April 17 at 10:10AM CDT until April 17 at 11:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen M...
Severe Thunderstorm Watch
Severe Thunderstorm Watch issued April 17 at 9:38AM CDT until April 17 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
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
15 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
4h 27m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is characterized as a highway-focused drive, with 84% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter stretches primarily on State Highway 13, State Highway 73, and State Highway 108. The longest continuous segment you'll navigate is 50.7 miles along State Highway 13, providing a good rhythm for steady progress. Expect a consistent driving experience that favors efficiency over winding, scenic byways.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
45 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 50.7 mi on State Highway 13.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 13 and State Highway 73. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near CTH H / County Highway H.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 27m drive. You will face about 20 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (CTH H / County Highway H): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (WI 13 / North 8th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 56.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Phillips, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Cth T: Withee and Neilsville.
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 50.7 miles on State Highway 13. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 2 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 0.1 miles (CTH H / County Highway H): Navigation decision point; at 40.7 miles (WI 13 / North 8th Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 56.5 miles: Navigation decision point.
Possible but tiring. At 4.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.9 hours — manageable with a long break at La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
