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Trip from Spring Green, WI to La Crosse, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 15m

Distance

90.8 mi

146 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$14

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 6m ★
6 AM
2h 15m
8 AM
2h 34m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 33m
8 PM
2h 10m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Spring Green, WI, WI

Spring Green, WI

Lauri Poldre

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Spring Green to La Crosse is 90.8 miles and takes about 2h 15m via State Highway 56 and US Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region. Expect a straightforward drive focused primarily on highways, making it a simple one-day journey. It’s a practical option if you need to get between these two points efficiently with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

45.4 miles from Spring Green, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 5m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
State Highway 56 28.5 mi 38m
North Main St 21.2 mi 30m
US Highway 14 11.1 mi 15m
US 14 10.8 mi 16m
North Main Street 7.4 mi 13m
WI 80 4.4 mi 6m
Mormon Coulee Road 2.6 mi 5m
East Decker Street 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: State Highway 56 — 28.5 mi, about 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Spring Green, WI and La Crosse, WI.

1

Start on Madison Street

0.2 mi · 35 sec · Madison Street
2

Turn left onto WI 23

0.7 mi · 1 min · South Winsted Street
3

At end of road, turn left onto US 14; WI 23

11 mi · 15 min · US Highway 14
4

Continue on US 14; WI 60

11 mi · 16 min · US 14; WI 60
Use the straight lane.
5

Turn slight right onto WI 80

4.4 mi · 6 min · WI 80
Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Turn left onto WI 56

17 mi · 23 min · State Highway 56
7

Continue on WI 56

0.4 mi · 39 sec · South Main Street
8

Turn left onto WI 56; WI 131

0.3 mi · 26 sec · West Commercial Street
9

Turn straight onto WI 56

11 mi · 15 min · State Highway 56
10

Continue on WI 56; WI 82

0.5 mi · 39 sec · Highland Road
11

Continue on WI 56; WI 82

1.0 mi · 1 min · East Decker Street
12

Turn right onto US 14; US 61; WI 27

7.4 mi · 13 min · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork

96 ft · 3 sec
14

Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61

21 mi · 30 min · North Main St
15

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35

42 ft · 0 sec · Mormon Coulee Road
16

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35

2.6 mi · 5 min · Mormon Coulee Road
17

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35

131 ft · 3 sec · South Avenue
18

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Avenue
19

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35

113 ft · 3 sec · South Avenue
20

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Avenue
21

Enter roundabout onto WI 35

16 ft · 0 sec · West Avenue South
22

Continue on WI 35

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Avenue South
23

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Trip Plan

Given the short duration of 2h 15m, you have plenty of flexibility on when to depart. Aiming for a morning start will give you ample time to reach La Crosse and still have the afternoon free. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, plan for one fill-up if your tank is low before leaving Spring Green. Since there are no designated stops, you can decide on spontaneous breaks as needed, but keep an eye on your mileage, especially during the 28.5-mile stretch on State Highway 56.

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 45.4 miles from Spring Green, WI, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 28.5 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 20 miles or 29m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 45.4 miles or 1h 5m 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 48m

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 Spring Green, 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 Spring Green, WI

This is one driving day of about 90.8 miles and 2h 15m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 miles from Spring Green, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 56 for about 28.5 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Soldiers Grove, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Soldiers Grove, WI

45 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

Excelsior, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Soldiers Grove, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 45.4 miles from Spring Green, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 89.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

4
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | WI 23 / South Winsted Street

Turn left onto WI 23 / South Winsted Street

Navigation decision point

4
0.9 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 14; WI 23 / US Highway 14

At end of road, turn left onto US 14; WI 23 / US Highway 14

Navigation decision point

6
58 mi into trip | ~1h 22m in | US 14; US 61; WI 27 / North Main Street

Turn right onto US 14; US 61; WI 27 / North Main Street

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
4
65.4 mi into trip | ~1h 35m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
89.5 mi into trip | ~2h 11m 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

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$14.20 one way

$28.39 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 32 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $15.59 $31.17
premium $4.89 $17.47 $34.95
diesel $5.61 $20.05 $40.09

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$14

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$39–$64

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 31.8 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 27.2 0 $9.53 $4.36
Efficient EV 22.7 0 $7.94 $3.63
EV Truck/SUV 36.3 0 $12.71 $5.81

Gas CO2

32 kg

EV CO2

11 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Spring Green, WI

Late night in Spring Green on Tuesday

Local time

4:21 AM

CDT

Current temp

62°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

4:21 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

3 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 15m 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?

This drive is largely highway-focused, with 61% of the route utilizing main roads like State Highway 56 and US Highway 14. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 28.5 miles on State Highway 56, offering a good amount of uninterrupted driving. The profile suggests a highway-centric experience, meaning you’ll likely be on well-maintained roads with consistent speeds for much of the journey. It’s less about winding backroads and more about covering ground efficiently.

61% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 28.5 mi on State Highway 56.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 56 and North Main St. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near WI 23 / South Winsted Street.

Driving Effort 5/10

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 90.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.2 miles (WI 23 / South Winsted Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 14; WI 23 / US Highway 14): Navigation decision point; at 58 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 27 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

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

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 90.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 28.5 miles on State Highway 56. 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 0.2 miles (WI 23 / South Winsted Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (US 14; WI 23 / US Highway 14): Navigation decision point; at 58 miles (US 14; US 61; WI 27 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Explore More

Return Trip

La Crosse, WI to Spring Green, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

90.6 mi 2h 15m

Explore more options from Spring Green, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.