How far is Cato, WI from La Crosse, WI?

The driving distance from Cato, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 208.4 miles (335.4 km), with a travel time of about 03h 48m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.6 miles (273 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 37m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
208.38 mi
03h 48m
Flight
169.63 mi
272.99 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Cato.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.63 mi
Kilometers
272.99 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
208.38 mi
Kilometers
335.35 km
Drive Time
03h 48m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 48m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 7:05 AM CDT
Return by in Cato
Thu, Apr 23, 10:54 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Cato
2026-04-23T03:17
Arrive La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 7:05 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 48m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:49 AM to 11:49 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
9:22 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Cato
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Packwaukee
WI

Civil town in Marquette County, Wisconsin

From Cato
100.2 mi
01h 54m
To La Crosse
108.2 mi
01h 54m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 18 mph SSE
Destination
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Cato and La Crosse.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Cato and La Crosse.

  1. 1

    Start on US Highway 10

    4.3 mi · 6 min · US Highway 10

  2. 2

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on US Highway 10

    4.9 mi · 7 min · US Highway 10

  4. 4

    Continue on East Ryan Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · East Ryan Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Hacker Road

    2420 ft · 2 min · Hacker Road

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Bastian Road

    1190 ft · 54 sec · Bastian Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto US Highway 10

    3.1 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 10

    37 m · 7 sec · US Highway 10

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 10

    6.4 mi · 9 min · US Highway 10

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 10

    41 m · 8 sec · US Highway 10

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 10

    2 mi · 3 min · US Highway 10

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 10

    33 m · 6 sec · US Highway 10

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 10

    4.2 mi · 6 min · US Highway 10

  14. 14

    Continue on Plank Road

    1.8 mi · 5 min · Plank Road

  15. 15

    Continue on 3rd Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · 3rd Street

  16. 16

    Turn left onto Tayco Street

    2426 ft · 41 sec · Tayco Street

  17. 17

    Continue on Washington Street

    1731 ft · 33 sec · Washington Street

  18. 18

    Continue on North Commercial Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · North Commercial Street

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Winneconne Avenue

    1.6 km · 2 min · Winneconne Avenue

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Winneconne Avenue

    38 m · 2 sec · Winneconne Avenue

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout onto Winneconne Avenue

    98 m · 6 sec · Winneconne Avenue

  22. 22

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Winneconne Avenue

    42 m · 2 sec · Winneconne Avenue

  23. 23

    Exit the roundabout onto Winneconne Avenue

    1198 ft · 29 sec · Winneconne Avenue

  24. 24

    Turn left

    1671 ft · 43 sec

  25. 25

    Merge slight left

    14 mi · 15 min

  26. 26

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 44, WI 91

    1444 ft · 35 sec

  27. 27

    Keep slight right

    56 m · 5 sec

  28. 28

    Turn right onto Ripon Rd

    1.3 km · 1 min · Ripon Rd

  29. 29

    Continue on State Highway 44

    14.8 mi · 22 min · State Highway 44

  30. 30

    Continue on East Oshkosh Street

    1.5 mi · 4 min · East Oshkosh Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto West Fond du Lac Street

    1.4 mi · 3 min · West Fond du Lac Street

  32. 32

    Continue on State Highway 23 & 49

    3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 23 & 49

  33. 33

    Turn straight onto State Highway 23

    9.2 mi · 13 min · State Highway 23

  34. 34

    Continue on South Fulton Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Fulton Street

  35. 35

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  36. 36

    Turn left

    46 m · 3 sec

  37. 37

    Continue on South 2nd Street

    2515 ft · 43 sec · South 2nd Street

  38. 38

    Continue on State Highway 23

    9.9 mi · 15 min · State Highway 23

  39. 39

    Continue on East Montello Street

    3142 ft · 57 sec · East Montello Street

  40. 40

    Continue on West Montello Street

    635 ft · 11 sec · West Montello Street

  41. 41

    Turn slight right onto Underwood Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Underwood Avenue

  42. 42

    Continue on State Highway 23

    6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23

  43. 43

    Continue on State Highway 82

    3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 82

  44. 44

    Continue on East Ormsby Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Ormsby Street

  45. 45

    Continue on State Highway 82

    24.5 mi · 36 min · State Highway 82

  46. 46

    Keep slight right

    85 m · 5 sec

  47. 47

    Take the ramp right

    1756 ft · 43 sec

  48. 48

    Merge slight left

    23.5 mi · 25 min

  49. 49

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  50. 50

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  51. 51

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  52. 52

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  53. 53

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  54. 54

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  55. 55

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  56. 56

    At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  57. 57

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Cato and La Crosse.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
57 steps
27 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
2 merges, 13 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
27.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 82
52 mi · 25%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 19%
State Highway 23
25.2 mi · 12%
US Highway 10
24.9 mi · 12%
Winneconne Avenue
15.3 mi · 7%
State Highway 44
14.8 mi · 7%
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

39.1 mi · 00h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 48m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 38m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+38.8 mi
169.6 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Packwaukee
01h 54m from Cato
Leave By
9:22 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny leaving Cato and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near La Crosse.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Cato to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 208.4 miles (335.4 km) and usually takes 03h 48m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Packwaukee is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100.2 miles from Cato and 108.2 miles from La Crosse.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 169.6 miles (273 km), while the road route adds roughly 38.8 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 9:22 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.72 one way or $55.43 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny around Cato and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near La Crosse.

Stop Ideas Near Packwaukee

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Packwaukee, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Packwaukee.

BUS

Westfield, WI

14 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Portage

24 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

30 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
RAIL

Columbus

59 mi away
359 North Ludington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Cato and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 169.63 mi (272.99 km).

Cato

#1 Cato

Civil town in Manitowoc County, Wisconsin

Population1,540
Coordinates44.1427700, -87.8612000
Altitude259
CountryUnited States
La Crosse

#2 La Crosse

The most populous city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.

Population51,163
Coordinates43.8013600, -91.2395800
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Start: Vietnam War Veterans Memorial Highway (-87.861202, 44.142437)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 335 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 56m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 12m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 58m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.35 gal
27.83 L · about $27.72
Round trip
$55.43
14.7 gal · 55.66 L
Estimated CO2
65.3 kg one way
Round trip: 130.6 kg / 288 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.72 $55.43
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.26 $62.52
Premium $4.65 $34.21 $68.41
Diesel $5.30 $38.98 $77.97

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Wisconsin · Apr 23, 2026

There is no time difference between Cato and La Crosse. The current time is 03:17:04.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.