Origin
Shelby, WI
Late night in Shelby on Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Shelby, WI to La Crosse, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
12m
Distance
6.5 mi
10 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 11m
★
6 AM
0h 12m
8 AM
0h 15m
10 AM
0h 13m
12 PM
0h 13m
3 PM
0h 13m
5 PM
0h 15m
8 PM
0h 12m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Shelby, WI
John Kostopoulos
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are traveling from Shelby to La Crosse, you are looking at a quick and straightforward 6.5-mile commute. The drive typically takes about 12 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. You will navigate primarily via Mormon Coulee Road, US 14, and South Avenue to complete the journey. With fuel costs estimated at just $1, this is an incredibly budget-friendly transit within the Midwest. Since the entire trip covers such a short distance, you certainly will not need an overnight stay to reach your destination. It is a practical, no-fuss connection between these two Wisconsin locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Mormon Coulee Road | 2.6 mi | 5m |
| US 14 | 2.4 mi | 3m |
| South Avenue | 0.8 mi | 1m |
| West Avenue South | 0.7 mi | 2m |
| H Helke Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Mormon Coulee Road
— 2.6 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Shelby, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on H Helke Road
17 ft
·
2 sec
·
H Helke Road
2
Turn right onto US 14; US 61
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
US 14; US 61
3
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
42 ft
·
0 sec
·
Mormon Coulee Road
4
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
2.6 mi
·
5 min
·
Mormon Coulee Road
5
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
131 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Avenue
6
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
·
South Avenue
7
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35
113 ft
·
3 sec
·
South Avenue
8
Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Avenue
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 35
16 ft
·
0 sec
·
West Avenue South
10
Continue on WI 35
0.7 mi
·
2 min
·
West Avenue South
11
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 55 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 5.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 14; US 61
Turn right onto US 14; US 61
Navigation decision point
4
2.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
5 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
5.2 mi into trip
|
~8m in
|
US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
5.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
WI 35 / West Avenue South
Enter roundabout onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.02 one way
$2.03 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
2 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.12 | $2.23 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.25 | $2.50 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.44 | $2.87 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2 | 0 | $0.68 | $0.31 |
| Efficient EV | 1.6 | 0 | $0.57 | $0.26 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.6 | 0 | $0.91 | $0.42 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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 Tuesday
Local time
4:25 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
16 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
12m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition between local roads and highway segments. About 37% of this route involves highway travel, providing a brief change of pace from the standard surface streets. Your longest uninterrupted stretch occurs during the 2.6 miles spent on Mormon Coulee Road, which serves as the backbone of the trip. The transition from Shelby into La Crosse is efficient, moving you through urban-adjacent corridors without any complex navigation. Behind the wheel, you will find the road character shifts predictably as you move from the outskirts into the city center.
37% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 2.6 mi on Mormon Coulee Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 14; US 61.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Shelby, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 12m with 37% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 14; US 61): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
740 ft
643 ft
Total Climb
82 ft
Total Descent
118 ft
Highest Point
740 ft
~0.5 mi in
Elevation Range
97 ft
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
This 6.5-mile drive is an absolute breeze for a weekend trip, taking only 12 minutes. It's an easy same-day round trip with no need for overnight stays.
Family Friendly
With a 12-minute drive and minimal complexity (2/10), this route is perfect for families. It's short enough that the kids won't get restless.
Solo Traveler
This 6.5-mile drive is exceptionally comfortable for a solo traveler, taking just 12 minutes. You'll be there and back before you know it.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
This 6.5-mile route is ideal for a first-time driver. The 12-minute travel time and low complexity rating make it very manageable.
Scenic Drive
Mixed highway & surface route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 2.6 miles on Mormon Coulee Road. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (US 14; US 61): Navigation decision point; at 2.4 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / Mormon Coulee Road): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 5 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 35 / South Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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 USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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