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

The driving distance from La Crosse, WI to Manitowoc, WI is about 233.7 miles (376.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 46m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 179.3 miles (288.5 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 32m 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
233.67 mi
04h 46m
Flight
179.28 mi
288.53 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from La Crosse.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
179.28 mi
Kilometers
288.53 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
233.67 mi
Kilometers
376.06 km
Drive Time
04h 46m

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 04h 46m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Manitowoc
Thu, Apr 23, 2:11 AM CDT
Return by in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 6:58 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave La Crosse
2026-04-22T21:25
Arrive Manitowoc
Thu, Apr 23, 2:11 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 46m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:46 AM to 12:46 PM CDT

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

Leave by
7:28 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in La Crosse
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
Pardeeville
WI

Village in Columbia County, Wisconsin

From La Crosse
116.6 mi
02h 23m
To Manitowoc
117 mi
02h 23m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
76°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SE
Destination
53°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Avenue South

    1.1 km · 2 min · West Avenue South

  2. 2

    Turn right

    107 m · 12 sec

  3. 3

    Turn straight onto Main Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · Main Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Losey Boulevard North

    2555 ft · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North

  5. 5

    Continue straight

    4.5 mi · 8 min

  6. 6

    Take the ramp slight right

    2171 ft · 53 sec

  7. 7

    Merge slight left

    99.6 mi · 1 hr 47 min

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo

    926 ft · 32 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight right

    53 m · 4 sec

  10. 10

    Turn straight

    33.4 mi · 50 min

  11. 11

    Turn right onto East State Street

    1419 ft · 35 sec · East State Street

  12. 12

    Continue on County Road A

    1108 ft · 23 sec · County Road A

  13. 13

    Turn left onto County Road C

    6 mi · 8 min · County Road C

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward US 151 South: Sun Prairie

    30 m · 5 sec

  15. 15

    Merge slight left

    41 m · 2 sec

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight left toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac

    100 m · 17 sec

  17. 17

    Turn left

    26.4 mi · 31 min

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Rienzi Road

    137 m · 13 sec · Rienzi Road

  19. 19

    Turn left onto County Road K

    1.5 mi · 3 min · County Road K

  20. 20

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward the route

    65 m · 4 sec

  21. 21

    Exit the roundabout

    656 ft · 18 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left onto East Johnson Street

    1.4 km · 1 min · East Johnson Street

  23. 23

    Continue on State Highway 23

    31.3 mi · 37 min · State Highway 23

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward I 43 North: Green Bay

    2090 ft · 59 sec

  25. 25

    Keep slight left

    2102 ft · 51 sec

  26. 26

    Merge slight left

    22.3 mi · 24 min

  27. 27

    Take the exit slight right toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac

    1217 ft · 30 sec

  28. 28

    Keep slight right

    52 m · 4 sec

  29. 29

    Turn straight onto Calumet Avenue

    2 mi · 3 min · Calumet Avenue

  30. 30

    Continue on Washington Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Washington Street

  31. 31

    Turn right onto South 8th Street

    28 m · 4 sec · South 8th Street

  32. 32

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · South 8th Street

Car Route Details

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

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Interchange-aware route

The drive includes several ramps, exits, or merges, so checking the next few maneuvers before busy interchanges is useful.

Directions
32 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
12
4 merges, 8 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
Losey Boulevard North
105 mi · 45%
State Highway 23
31.3 mi · 13%
I 43 North
23 mi · 10%
County Road C
6 mi · 3%
Calumet Avenue
2.04 mi · 1%
County Road K
1.65 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

Losey Boulevard North

Merge slight left

99.6 mi · 01h 47m

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
04h 46m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 32m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+54.4 mi
179.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Pardeeville
02h 23m from La Crosse
Leave By
7:28 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving La Crosse and Sunny near Manitowoc.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 233.7 miles (376.1 km) and usually takes 04h 46m 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?

Pardeeville is a useful midpoint, sitting about 116.6 miles from La Crosse and 117 miles from Manitowoc.

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

The direct path is about 179.3 miles (288.5 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.4 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 7:28 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $31.07 one way or $62.15 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 73.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around La Crosse and Sunny near Manitowoc.

Stop Ideas Near Pardeeville

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Pardeeville, 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 Pardeeville.

RAIL

Portage

14 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
RAIL

Columbus

32 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

39 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Beaver Dam, WI

40 mi away
817 Park Avenue

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between La Crosse and Manitowoc. Straight-line distance: 179.28 mi (288.53 km).

La Crosse

#1 La Crosse

The most populous city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.

Population51,163
Coordinates43.8013600, -91.2395800
Altitude204
CountryUnited States
Manitowoc

#2 Manitowoc

City in and the county seat of Manitowoc County, Wisconsin, United States

Population1,077
Coordinates44.0886100, -87.6575800
Altitude184
CountryUnited States
Start: La Crosse (-91.23958, 43.80136)
End: Manitowoc (-87.65758, 44.08861)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 376 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 47m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 50m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 40m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 53m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 20m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 54m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.24 gal
31.21 L · about $31.07
Round trip
$62.15
16.48 gal · 62.42 L
Estimated CO2
73.2 kg one way
Round trip: 146.5 kg / 323 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $31.07 $62.15
Mid-grade $4.25 $35.04 $70.09
Premium $4.65 $38.35 $76.70
Diesel $5.30 $43.70 $87.41

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 La Crosse and Manitowoc. The current time is 21:25:09.

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.