Stoughton to La Crosse is 155 miles and takes about 2 hours 58 minutes via I-90, I-39, and WI-16, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward, highway-focused trip that's ideal for a single-day journey. Expect a practical route that prioritizes getting you to your destination efficiently.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
77.5 miles from Stoughton, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 27m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
102.6 mi
1h 49m
I 39
37.8 mi
40m
WI 16
4.9 mi
8m
County Highway N
4.3 mi
6m
County Road N
1.5 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
16th Street South
0.8 mi
2m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 102.6 mi, about 1h 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stoughton, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on South 4th Street
80 ft·10 sec·South 4th Street
2
Turn left onto US 51; CTH A
0.9 mi·2 min·East Main Street
3
Turn left onto CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Highway N
4
Continue on CTH B; CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road N
5
Continue on CTH N
2.4 mi·3 min·County Highway N
6
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
121 ft·2 sec·County Highway N
7
Continue on CTH N
0.2 mi·31 sec·County Highway N
8
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
83 ft·2 sec·County Highway N
9
Continue on CTH N
0.1 mi·17 sec·County Highway N
10
Enter roundabout
200 ft·4 sec
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West
11
Continue
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West
12
Merge onto I 39; I 90
38 mi·40 min·I 39; I 90
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
39 mi·41 min·I 90
Exit 45Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
15
Take the exit
0.3 mi·41 sec
Exit 5Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
16
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi·8 min·WI 16
17
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
18
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
19
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
20
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
21
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
22
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour 58 minute duration, this is a comfortable one-day trip, so you have flexibility on when to depart. Leaving in the morning will give you ample time to arrive and still have daylight. With a fuel cost estimated at $24, planning your fuel stops is straightforward. The longest stretch on I-90 is over 100 miles, so ensure you're fueled up before embarking on that segment to avoid any unnecessary detours for gas.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 77.5 miles from Stoughton, WI, or about 1h 27m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 102.6 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 34 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 77.5 miles or 1h 27m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 20m
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 Stoughton, 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 Stoughton, WI
This is one driving day of about 155 miles and 2h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 miles from Stoughton, 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 102.6 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 147.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip|~11m in|CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
6.7 mi into trip|~11m in
Enter roundabout toward I 39 North, I 90 West
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West
6
44.9 mi into trip|~52m in|I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
7
108.3 mi into trip|~2h 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
147.5 mi into trip|~2h 42m 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
$24.23 one way
$48.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg54 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$26.61
$53.21
premium
$4.89
$29.83
$59.66
diesel
$5.61
$34.22
$68.44
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$24
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$49–$74
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
46.5
0
$16.28
$7.44
Efficient EV
38.8
0
$13.56
$6.20
EV Truck/SUV
62
0
$21.70
$9.92
Gas CO2
54 kg
EV CO2
18 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
Stoughton, WI
Morning
in Stoughton on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Morning
in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
6:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
S 2 to 8 mph1% chanceLive 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
7 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
2h 58m 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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 75
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily a highway-focused drive, with 94% of the journey utilizing major highways. You'll spend most of your time on I-90, I-39, and WI-16, allowing for consistent speeds. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 102.6 miles on I-90, meaning you can settle in for a good period without many interruptions. The road character is largely consistent, designed for efficient travel between these two Wisconsin points.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 102.6 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near CTH N / County Highway N.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 58m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6.6 miles (CTH N / County Highway N): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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 102.6 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 6.6 miles (CTH N / County Highway N): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 44.9 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
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.
