How far is Florence, WI from La Crosse, WI?
Fastest route
The journey from Florence, Wisconsin (54121) to La Crosse, Wisconsin spans approximately 268 miles (431 kilometers) and takes about 4 hours and 48 minutes via I-90 W. This route is the fastest one considering traffic conditions.
Directions
- Start by heading west on US-141 N/Central Ave/U.S. Rte 2 W toward Pewabic St. 🚗
- Follow US-141 N/U.S. Rte 2 W, and then turn left onto WI-101 S/WI-70 W/WI-70 Trunk W. 🛣️
- Make another left to stay on US-8 W, and then turn right to continue on US-8 W. 🛤️
- Take Co Rd C to WI-17 S in Schley, turning right onto County Rd A. 🛣️
- Proceed onto US-51 S, I-39 S, WI-34, County Rd O, and I-90 W to I-90 ALT in La Crosse. Merge left onto US-51 S and continue onto I-39 S/US-51 S. Take exit 175 for WI-34 S toward Knowlton/Wis Rapids. At the traffic circle, take the 2nd exit to stay on WI-34 and continue onto County Rd HH. Turn left onto County Rd O, then onto State Hwy 13/WI-34 S. Turn right onto 2nd Ave S/Wisconsin Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians Hwy. At the traffic circle, take the 3rd exit onto WI-54 W/WI-54 Trunk W/WI-73 S/2nd Ave S/Wisconsin Firefighters and Emergency Medical Technicians Hwy. Turn right onto Seneca Rd, then left onto WI-54 W/WI-54 Trunk W. Finally, make a left onto County Rd GG, and left again onto WI-173 S/WI-80 Trunk S/State Rd 80 S. Take the ramp to Madison and merge onto I-90 W. Use exit 147 to merge onto I-90 ALT. 🚙
Tips & Suggestions
- 🗺️ Plan Ahead: Before embarking on your journey, review the route and any potential traffic or road closures.
- ⛽ Fuel Up: Ensure your vehicle has enough fuel for the journey, especially for longer stretches between gas stations.
- 🚓 Follow Speed Limits: Adhere to posted speed limits and drive safely to reach your destination without incidents.
- 📱 GPS Assistance: Use a navigation app or GPS device to receive real-time directions and updates on traffic conditions.
- ☕ Take Breaks: During longer journeys, take periodic breaks to stretch, rest, and stay alert.
FAQs
Q: How long is the journey from Florence, Wisconsin to La Crosse, Wisconsin? A: The journey spans approximately 268 miles and takes around 4 hours and 48 minutes via I-90 W.
Q: Are there any specific highways to watch out for on this route? A: Yes, you'll be primarily traveling on US-141, US-8, Co Rd C, US-51, I-39, WI-34, County Rd O, State Hwy 13, WI-54, County Rd GG, and WI-173.
Q: Can I expect traffic congestion along the way? A: The route mentioned is currently the fastest due to traffic conditions. However, it's recommended to check for real-time traffic updates before starting your journey to avoid unexpected delays.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 05h 03m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Civil town in Marathon County, Wisconsin
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Florence and La Crosse.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Florence and La Crosse.
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1
Start on Quinnesec Street
27 m · 8 sec · Quinnesec Street
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2
Turn left onto Central Avenue
1489 ft · 46 sec · Central Avenue
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3
Turn left onto State Highway 70/101
20.7 mi · 31 min · State Highway 70/101
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4
At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 139
2.8 mi · 4 min · State Highway 139
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5
Turn left onto State Highway 70
28.9 mi · 40 min · State Highway 70
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6
Continue on East Pine Street
1.4 mi · 4 min · East Pine Street
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7
Continue on State Highway 17
1.9 mi · 4 min · State Highway 17
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8
Continue on State Highway 17
17.9 mi · 25 min · State Highway 17
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9
Continue on North Stevens Street
1.1 km · 1 min · North Stevens Street
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10
Turn slight right
553 ft · 19 sec
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11
Continue on North Stevens Street
2.2 mi · 4 min · North Stevens Street
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12
Turn right onto West Davenport Street
1.5 mi · 3 min · West Davenport Street
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13
Turn left onto State Highway 47
1168 ft · 27 sec · State Highway 47
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14
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US Highway 8
8 m · 2 sec · US Highway 8
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15
Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 8
2.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 8
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16
Continue on US 8
11.6 mi · 16 min · US 8
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17
Turn left
2168 ft · 53 sec
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18
Merge slight left
46.3 mi · 53 min
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19
Keep slight left to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
12.5 mi · 14 min
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20
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
1570 ft · 38 sec
-
21
Keep slight right
61 m · 7 sec
-
22
Turn straight onto State Highway 34
879 ft · 17 sec · State Highway 34
-
23
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34
38 m · 2 sec · State Highway 34
-
24
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34
9.7 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34
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25
Take the ramp right
1266 ft · 31 sec
-
26
Merge slight left onto US Highway 10
3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10
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27
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
1767 ft · 49 sec
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28
Turn left onto Victory Road
15.2 mi · 22 min · Victory Road
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29
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
2831 ft · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South
-
30
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 2nd Avenue South
57 m · 3 sec · 2nd Avenue South
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31
Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South
1.3 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South
-
32
Continue on Wisconsin River Drive
1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive
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33
Turn right onto Letendre Avenue
1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue
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34
Continue on State Highway 54
2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54
-
35
Turn left onto County Highway G
2 mi · 3 min · County Highway G
-
36
Continue on State Highway 173
9.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 173
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37
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 80
125 m · 7 sec · State Highway 80
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38
Continue on State Highway 173
1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 173
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39
Continue on State Highway 173
23.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 173
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40
Turn right onto State Highway 21
4 mi · 5 min · State Highway 21
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41
Continue on East McCoy Boulevard
1684 ft · 34 sec · East McCoy Boulevard
-
42
Continue on State Highway 21
640 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 21
-
43
Take the exit straight
1644 ft · 42 sec
-
44
Merge slight left
2.8 mi · 3 min
-
45
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
1.2 km · 51 sec
-
46
Merge slight left
38.1 mi · 41 min
-
47
Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
1636 ft · 42 sec
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48
At the end of the road, turn left
4.9 mi · 9 min
-
49
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North
-
50
Turn right onto Main Street
1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street
-
51
Turn left onto 16th Street South
1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South
-
52
Turn right onto Johnson Street
1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street
-
53
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South
99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South
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54
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Florence and La Crosse.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
US 8
Merge slight left
46.3 mi · 00h 53m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
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.
Sunny leaving Florence and Sunny near La Crosse.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Florence to La Crosse?
The road trip is about 270 miles (434.5 km) and usually takes 05h 03m 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?
Rib Mountain is a useful midpoint, sitting about 139.4 miles from Florence and 130.6 miles from La Crosse.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 207 miles (333.2 km), while the road route adds roughly 63 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 6:54 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $35.94 one way or $71.88 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 84.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Sunny around Florence and Sunny near La Crosse.
Stop Ideas Near Rib Mountain
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Rib Mountain.
Wausau, Wisconsin
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Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Florence and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 207.05 mi (333.22 km).
#1 Florence
Civil town in Florence County, Wisconsin
| Population | 1,945 |
| Coordinates | 45.9221800, -88.2518000 |
| Altitude | 398 |
| Country | United States |
#2 La Crosse
The most populous city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
| Population | 51,163 |
| Coordinates | 43.8013600, -91.2395800 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 435 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 08h 59m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 06h 45m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 05h 23m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 04h 30m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 03h 51m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 03h 22m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $35.94 | $71.88 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $40.53 | $81.06 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $44.35 | $88.71 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $50.55 | $101.09 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.