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Trip from Viroqua, 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

52m

Distance

32.8 mi

53 km

Drive Score

6/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$5

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 13 min
4 AM
0h 49m ★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 56m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m

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

city in and county seat of Vernon County, Wisconsin, United States

Viroqua, WI

Wikimedia Commons

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling between Viroqua and La Crosse is a straightforward 32.8-mile journey that typically takes about 43 minutes behind the wheel. Because this trip is entirely contained within the Midwest, you will find the transition between these two Wisconsin towns to be a quick, efficient connection. You can easily complete this route in a single day, making it an ideal choice for a short excursion rather than an overnight stay. With a modest fuel budget of approximately $4, the drive is highly economical for most vehicles. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this direct route offers a practical way to navigate the region without the need for extensive planning.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
North Main St 21.2 mi 30m
North Main Street 7.4 mi 13m
Mormon Coulee Road 2.6 mi 5m
South Avenue 0.8 mi 1m
West Avenue South 0.7 mi 2m
East Decker Street <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: North Main St — 21.2 mi, about 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on this road

76 ft · 11 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn left onto WI 56; WI 82

154 ft · 7 sec · East Decker Street
3

Turn right onto US 14; US 61; WI 27

7.4 mi · 13 min · North Main Street
Use the straight lane.
4

Keep slight left at fork

96 ft · 3 sec
5

Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61

21 mi · 30 min · North Main St
6

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35

42 ft · 0 sec · Mormon Coulee Road
7

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35

2.6 mi · 5 min · Mormon Coulee Road
8

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35

131 ft · 3 sec · South Avenue
9

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35

0.2 mi · 26 sec · South Avenue
10

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61; WI 35

113 ft · 3 sec · South Avenue
11

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 35

0.5 mi · 1 min · South Avenue
12

Enter roundabout onto WI 35

16 ft · 0 sec · West Avenue South
13

Continue on WI 35

0.7 mi · 2 min · West Avenue South
14

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Saint Joseph, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Saint Joseph, WI

16 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

North La Crosse, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32.8 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Saint Joseph, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 16.4 miles from Viroqua, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 31.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | WI 56; WI 82 / East Decker Street

At end of road, turn left onto WI 56; WI 82 / East Decker Street

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

6
0 mi into trip | ~0m 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
7.5 mi into trip | ~13m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
7.5 mi into trip | ~13m in | US 14; US 61 / North Main St

Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61 / North Main St

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

5
31.5 mi into trip | ~49m 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

$5.13 one way

$10.26 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 12 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $5.63 $11.26
premium $4.89 $6.31 $12.62
diesel $5.61 $7.24 $14.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$5

Estimated CO2 emission: 11.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 64% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 9.8 0 $3.44 $1.57
Efficient EV 8.2 0 $2.87 $1.31
EV Truck/SUV 13.1 0 $4.59 $2.10

Gas CO2

11 kg

EV CO2

4 kg (64% 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 16, 2026

Origin

Viroqua, WI

Late night in Viroqua on Tuesday

Local time

5:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Late night in La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

5:22 AM

CDT

Current temp

75°F

Sunny

SW 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 4:45PM CDT until April 19 at 1:27AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 16 at 3:11PM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

43°F

Saint Joseph, WI

16 mi in

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

52m 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 turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous highway cruise, as this route contains zero highway miles. You will navigate primarily via East Decker Street and North Main Street throughout the 32.8-mile duration. Because the longest uninterrupted stretch on East Decker Street is effectively negligible, you should remain alert for frequent turns and directional changes. This lack of highway time gives the drive a local, ground-level feel that contrasts with the typical interstate experience. Prepare yourself for a hands-on driving experience where your focus will stay on the immediate road ahead.

Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 21.2 mi on North Main St.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 56; WI 82 / East Decker 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 32.8 miles you will encounter 8 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: near the start (WI 56; WI 82 / East Decker Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; near the start (US 14; US 61; WI 27 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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 52m. Total distance: 32.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

52m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (0%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Scenic Drive

Mostly surface roads route profile.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 21.2 miles on North Main St. 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 (WI 56; WI 82 / East Decker Street): Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch; near the start (US 14; US 61; WI 27 / North Main Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

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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