Origin
Whitehall, WI
Late night in Whitehall on Tuesday
Local time
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Whitehall, 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
1h 13m
Distance
49.4 mi
80 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$8
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 8m
★
6 AM
1h 13m
8 AM
1h 25m
10 AM
1h 17m
12 PM
1h 16m
3 PM
1h 18m
5 PM
1h 24m
8 PM
1h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Whitehall, WI
Quang Vuong
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking to travel from Whitehall to La Crosse, you are looking at a straightforward 49.4-mile journey through the Wisconsin Midwest. This drive typically takes about 1 hour and 13 minutes, making it a perfect day trip that does not require an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via US Highway 53 and WI 16 to complete the connection. With a fuel budget of approximately $8, this is an efficient and cost-effective way to transition between these two locations. The route is entirely contained within the state of Wisconsin, offering a consistent regional feel throughout the drive.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US Highway 53 | 24.3 mi | 35m |
| US 53 | 17.8 mi | 22m |
| WI 16 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| WI 157 | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| Ervin Street | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Losey Boulevard North | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
US Highway 53
— 24.3 mi, about 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Whitehall, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on US 53; WI 121; CTH D
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Main Street
2
At end of road, turn left onto US 53
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Ervin Street
3
Continue on US 53
24 mi
·
35 min
·
US Highway 53
4
Turn left onto US 53; WI 93; WI 54
18 mi
·
22 min
·
US 53; WI 93; WI 54
5
Turn straight onto WI 157
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 157
6
Turn slight right
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
7
Turn straight onto WI 16
3.4 mi
·
5 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
25 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 11 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 24.7 miles from Whitehall, 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 65 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 49.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.3 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
US 53 / Ervin Street
At end of road, turn left onto US 53 / Ervin Street
Navigation decision point
3
25.1 mi into trip
|
~36m in
|
US 53; WI 93; WI 54
Turn left onto US 53; WI 93; WI 54
Navigation decision point
4
47.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 8m in
|
CTH F / Main Street
Turn right onto CTH F / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
49 mi into trip
|
~1h 12m in
|
Johnson Street
Turn right onto Johnson Street
Navigation decision point
5
49.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 13m 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
$7.72 one way
$15.45 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
17 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $8.48 | $16.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $9.51 | $19.01 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.91 | $21.81 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$8
Estimated CO2 emission: 17.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 14.8 | 0 | $5.19 | $2.37 |
| Efficient EV | 12.4 | 0 | $4.32 | $1.98 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 19.8 | 0 | $6.92 | $3.16 |
Gas CO2
17 kg
EV CO2
6 kg (65% 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
4:14 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
60°F
Ettrick, WI
25 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
1h 13m 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 is a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey spent on major thoroughfares. You should expect a steady pace, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 24.3 miles along US Highway 53. While the road is designed for efficiency rather than technical complexity, the transition from local roads to the highway system keeps the experience moving quickly. Because the majority of your time is spent on high-speed routes, you will find the drive predictable and easy to manage behind the wheel. It is a practical path that prioritizes getting you to your destination without unnecessary detours or complex navigation.
93% 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: 24.3 mi on US Highway 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US Highway 53 and US 53. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in near US 53 / Ervin Street.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from Whitehall, WI to La Crosse, WI is easy. At 1h 13m with 93% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles (US 53 / Ervin Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.1 miles (US 53; WI 93; WI 54): Navigation decision point; at 47.6 miles (CTH F / Main Street): Navigation decision point.
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 1h 13m. Total distance: 49.4 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 24.3 miles on US Highway 53. 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 0.3 miles (US 53 / Ervin Street): Navigation decision point; at 25.1 miles (US 53; WI 93; WI 54): Navigation decision point; at 47.6 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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