Origin
Random Lake, WI
Afternoon in Random Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Random Lake, 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
4h 21m
Distance
198.7 mi
320 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 8m
★
6 AM
4h 21m
8 AM
4h 48m
10 AM
4h 30m
12 PM
4h 28m
3 PM
4h 32m
5 PM
4h 46m
8 PM
4h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Random Lake, WI
Jacob Postuma
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 198.7-mile drive from Random Lake to La Crosse, Wisconsin, will take you about 4 hours and 21 minutes. It's a straightforward, highway-focused journey that makes for a comfortable single-day trip, with an estimated fuel cost of $31. You'll primarily be on Interstate 90 and State Highway 33, including a portion of the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway. Given its manageable length and predominantly highway profile, this route is ideal for a day trip, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. The Midwest scenery provides a consistent backdrop for this efficient cross-state connection.
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
99.3 miles from Random Lake, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 26m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 99.3 mi | 1h 46m |
| State Highway 33 | 27.2 mi | 39m |
| Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway | 13.6 mi | 23m |
| State Highway 49 | 11.7 mi | 17m |
| State Highway 144 | 7 mi | 9m |
| County Road C | 6 mi | 8m |
| US 151 | 5.8 mi | 6m |
| I 41 | 5.3 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 99.3 mi, about 1h 46m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Random Lake, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on 3rd Street
61 ft
·
4 sec
·
3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Carroll Street
0.1 mi
·
29 sec
·
Carroll Street
3
Turn left onto 5th Street
422 ft
·
20 sec
·
5th Street
4
Turn right onto CTH K
201 ft
·
10 sec
·
Allen Street
5
Turn left onto CTH K
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
·
Western Avenue
6
Turn right onto CTH K
0.3 mi
·
42 sec
·
North Spring Street
7
At end of road, turn left onto WI 144
5.3 mi
·
7 min
·
State Highway 144
8
Turn left onto WI 28; WI 144
2.1 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 28
9
Continue on WI 28; WI 144
1.7 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 144
10
Turn right onto WI 28
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway
11
Continue on WI 28
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto US 45; WI 28
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Fond du Lac Avenue
13
Turn left onto WI 28
8.5 mi
·
14 min
·
Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway
14
Take the ramp
0.6 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North: Appleton
15
Merge onto I 41; US 41
5.3 mi
·
5 min
·
I 41; US 41
Toward Appleton
Use the straight lane.
16
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
37 sec
Exit 87
Toward WI 49, CTH KK, US 41 North Alternate: Brownsville, Waupun
17
Keep slight left at fork
127 ft
·
3 sec
18
Turn left onto State Highway 49
0.3 mi
·
27 sec
·
State Highway 49
19
Continue on WI 49
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
Main Street
20
Continue on WI 49
11 mi
·
17 min
·
State Highway 49
21
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
22
Merge onto US 151
5.8 mi
·
6 min
·
US 151
23
Turn right onto CTH C
6.0 mi
·
8 min
·
County Road C
24
Turn right onto CTH A; CTH C
0.2 mi
·
17 sec
·
County Road A
25
Continue on CTH A; CTH C
0.3 mi
·
36 sec
·
East State Street
26
At end of road, turn left onto WI 68; CTH A; CTH C
154 ft
·
3 sec
·
State Highway 68
27
Continue on WI 68; CTH A; CTH C
1.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East State Street
28
Continue on WI 33; CTH A
27 mi
·
39 min
·
State Highway 33
29
Continue on WI 33
4.9 mi
·
7 min
·
East Cook Street
30
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
49 sec
31
Merge onto I 90; I 94
60 mi
·
1 hr 4 min
·
I 90; I 94
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi
·
41 min
·
I 90
Exit 45
Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
33
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
34
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
WI 16
35
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
36
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
37
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
38
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
39
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
40
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 21-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Random Lake to maximize your daylight and arrive in La Crosse with ample time. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in pacing your journey. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the 99.3-mile stretch on I-90, as services might be less frequent. The $31 fuel cost is a good estimate for planning. Since this is a manageable day trip, you can easily adjust your schedule if you encounter unexpected delays or decide to linger longer at your starting point.
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 99.3 miles from Random Lake, WI, or about 2h 26m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 99.3 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 44 miles or 1h 9m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 99.3 miles or 2h 26m 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 34m
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 Random Lake, 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 Random Lake, WI
This is one driving day of about 198.7 miles and 4h 21m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Random Lake, 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 I 90 for about 99.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
99 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 99.3 miles from Random Lake, 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 99.3 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 285 decision points cluster between mile 24.8 and 191.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
24.8 mi into trip
|
~42m in
Take the ramp toward I 41 North, US 41 North: Appleton
Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 41 North, US 41 North: Appleton
6
25.4 mi into trip
|
~43m in
|
I 41; US 41
Merge onto I 41; US 41 toward Appleton
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
Toward Appleton
6
30.7 mi into trip
|
~49m in
Take the exit toward WI 49, CTH KK, US 41 North Alternate: Brownsville, Waupun
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 87
Toward WI 49, CTH KK, US 41 North Alternate: Br...
7
152 mi into trip
|
~3h 22m 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
191.1 mi into trip
|
~4h 4m 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
$31.06 one way
$62.13 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
70 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $34.11 | $68.22 |
| premium | $4.89 | $38.24 | $76.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $43.87 | $87.74 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 69.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 59.6 | 0 | $20.86 | $9.54 |
| Efficient EV | 49.7 | 0 | $17.39 | $7.95 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 79.5 | 0 | $27.82 | $12.72 |
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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.
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
S 2 to 8 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:37PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 7:36PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
5 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
4h 21m 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.
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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 116.5
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this 198.7-mile route, with 82% of it being on major highways. You’ll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 99.3 miles on I-90, which means long, consistent driving periods. The use of State Highway 33 and the Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway offers some variation from the interstate, though the overall character remains geared towards efficient travel. This drive emphasizes covering distance with relative ease, rather than winding through small towns or demanding technical driving.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
40 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 99.3 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 33. You will hit about 28 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 24.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 198.7 miles you will encounter 28 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 24.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.4 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 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.
Between Random Lake, WI and La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Appleton, Cth and Waupun.
Appleton
25.4 mi in
|
~43m
|
via I 41; US 41
Cth
30.7 mi in
|
~49m
Waupun
30.7 mi in
|
~49m
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 4h 21m. Total distance: 198.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 21m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 99.3 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at La Crosse, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 24.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 25.4 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 30.7 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.
Possible but tiring. At 4.4 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.7 hours — manageable with a long break at La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From La Crosse, WI
More from Random Lake, WI
More trips to La Crosse, WI
Explore more options from Random Lake, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.