Origin
Tomah, WI
Morning in Tomah on Tuesday
Local time
8:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Tomah, 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
57m
Distance
44.2 mi
71 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 53m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 7m
10 AM
1h 1m
12 PM
1h 0m
3 PM
1h 1m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Tomah, WI
SHOX ART
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to head from Tomah to La Crosse, you are looking at a quick, efficient 44.2-mile journey through the heart of Wisconsin. You can easily complete this trip in about 57 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. Budgeting roughly $7 for fuel will cover your transit across these two Midwest locations. Because the duration is under an hour, there is no need to worry about overnight logistics or complex planning. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this straightforward drive offers a hassle-free connection between these two cities.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 34.9 mi | 37m |
| WI 16 | 4.9 mi | 8m |
| State Highway 131 | 0.9 mi | 1m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Superior Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Johnson Street | 0.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 34.9 mi, about 37m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Tomah, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on East Lacrosse Street
165 ft
·
7 sec
·
East Lacrosse Street
2
Turn left onto US 12
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Superior Avenue
3
Continue on WI 131
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 131
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
5
Merge onto I 90
35 mi
·
37 min
·
I 90
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Exit 5
Toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
7
At end of road, turn left onto WI 16
4.9 mi
·
8 min
·
WI 16
8
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Losey Boulevard North
9
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
10
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
16th Street South
11
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
Johnson Street
12
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft
·
11 sec
·
West Avenue South
13
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
22 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 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 22.1 miles from Tomah, 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 85 decision points cluster between mile 1.4 and 44.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
3
1.4 mi into trip
|
~3m in
Take the ramp
Navigation decision point
6
36.6 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
4
42.3 mi into trip
|
~52m in
|
CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
43.8 mi into trip
|
~56m in
|
Johnson Street
Turn right onto Johnson Street
Navigation decision point
5
44.1 mi into trip
|
~57m 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
$6.91 one way
$13.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.59 | $15.17 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.51 | $17.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $9.76 | $19.52 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$7
Estimated CO2 emission: 15.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 13.3 | 0 | $4.64 | $2.12 |
| Efficient EV | 11.1 | 0 | $3.87 | $1.77 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 17.7 | 0 | $6.19 | $2.83 |
Gas CO2
15 kg
EV CO2
5 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
Morning in La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
8:48 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 3 to 9 mph
71% chance
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
4 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
57m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a trip defined by speed and efficiency, as 92% of your journey takes place on highways. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-90, which accounts for a 34.9-mile stretch of uninterrupted driving. The route relies on a combination of I-90, WI-16, and State Highway 131 to bridge the gap between your starting point and your destination. While the interstate provides a fast-paced environment, the transition to state highways ensures you reach your specific local arrival point smoothly. It is a focused, highway-centric experience designed to get you to your destination with minimal detours.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WI 16. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.4 miles in.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 57m drive. You will face about 8 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.3 miles (CTH F / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,160 ft
669 ft
Total Climb
262 ft
Total Descent
565 ft
Highest Point
1,160 ft
~6.3 mi in
Elevation Range
492 ft
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.
On the drive from Tomah, WI to La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.
Onalaska
36.6 mi in
|
~41m
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 57m. Total distance: 44.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
57m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34.9 miles on I 90. 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: at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 36.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 42.3 miles (CTH F / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to La Crosse, WI
Explore more options from Tomah, WI or browse trips ending in La Crosse, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.