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

The driving distance from Montrose, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 127.1 miles (204.6 km), with a travel time of about 02h 39m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 104.9 miles (168.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
127.14 mi
02h 39m
Flight
104.9 mi
168.82 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Montrose.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
104.9 mi
Kilometers
168.82 km
Flight Time
00h 12m

Driving Distance

Road route
127.14 mi
Kilometers
204.62 km
Drive Time
02h 39m

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 02h 39m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 2:33 AM CDT
Return by in Montrose
Sat, Apr 18, 5:13 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Montrose
2026-04-17T23:54
Arrive La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 2:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 39m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:40 AM to 12:40 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:10 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Montrose
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Lemonweir
WI

Town in Juneau County, Wisconsin, United States

From Montrose
75.9 mi
01h 19m
To La Crosse
51.2 mi
01h 19m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 20 mph S
Destination
77°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Feller Drive

    9 m · 3 sec · Feller Drive

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Montrose Road

    1.1 km · 1 min · Montrose Road

  3. 3

    Turn right onto Fritz Road

    1405 ft · 1 min · Fritz Road

  4. 4

    Turn slight left onto Jim Town Road

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Jim Town Road

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 92

    5.5 mi · 8 min · State Highway 92

  6. 6

    Continue on Washington Street

    2507 ft · 1 min · Washington Street

  7. 7

    Continue on State Highway 92

    5.7 mi · 8 min · State Highway 92

  8. 8

    Continue on South 8th Street

    2541 ft · 51 sec · South 8th Street

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 78

    39 m · 2 sec · State Highway 78

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 78

    9 mi · 13 min · State Highway 78

  11. 11

    Continue on Mills Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · Mills Street

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Street

    1463 ft · 35 sec · State Street

  13. 13

    Continue on US Highway 14

    2.1 mi · 3 min · US Highway 14

  14. 14

    Turn right onto State Highway 19/78

    1.4 mi · 2 min · State Highway 19/78

  15. 15

    Continue on State Highway 78

    6.5 mi · 10 min · State Highway 78

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left

    1.4 mi · 3 min

  17. 17

    Continue on US Highway 12 & State Highway 60

    22.1 mi · 28 min · US Highway 12 & State Highway 60

  18. 18

    Take the exit straight toward I 90 West, I 94 West: La Crosse, Eau Claire

    1956 ft · 48 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    46.9 mi · 50 min

  20. 20

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  21. 21

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  22. 22

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  23. 23

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  24. 24

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  25. 25

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  26. 26

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  27. 27

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  28. 28

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Montrose 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
28 steps
14 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
5
1 merges, 4 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
22 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
86.4 mi · 68%
US Highway 12 & State Highway 60
22.1 mi · 17%
State Highway 78
15.5 mi · 12%
State Highway 92
11.2 mi · 9%
US Highway 14
2.1 mi · 2%
State Highway 19/78
1.39 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

Merge slight left

46.9 mi · 00h 50m

Route Summary

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

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 39m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 20m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.2 mi
104.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lemonweir
01h 19m from Montrose
Leave By
1:10 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Montrose and Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely near La Crosse.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 127.1 miles (204.6 km) and usually takes 02h 39m in normal driving conditions.

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

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Lemonweir is a useful midpoint, sitting about 75.9 miles from Montrose and 51.2 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 104.9 miles (168.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:10 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $16.93 one way or $33.86 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 39.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Lemonweir

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

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

RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

26 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Westfield, WI

44 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Tomah

45 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.
RAIL

Portage

51 mi away
400 West Oneida Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Montrose and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 104.9 mi (168.82 km).

Montrose

#1 Montrose

Civil town in Dane County, Wisconsin

Population1,150
Coordinates42.8827800, -89.5773400
Altitude294
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: Feller Drive (-89.577295, 42.88278)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 205 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 14m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 10m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 32m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 07m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 48m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 35m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.49 gal
16.98 L · about $16.93
Round trip
$33.86
8.98 gal · 33.96 L
Estimated CO2
39.9 kg one way
Round trip: 79.8 kg / 176 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $16.93 $33.86
Mid-grade $4.25 $19.10 $38.19
Premium $4.65 $20.90 $41.79
Diesel $5.30 $23.81 $47.63

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 18, 2026

There is no time difference between Montrose and La Crosse. The current time is 23:54:04.

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.