How far is Pell Lake, WI from La Crosse, WI?

The driving distance from Pell Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 212.9 miles (342.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 29m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.7 miles (273.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 58m 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
212.97 mi
03h 29m
Flight
169.72 mi
273.13 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pell Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.72 mi
Kilometers
273.13 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
212.97 mi
Kilometers
342.74 km
Drive Time
03h 29m

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 29m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 6:33 AM CDT
Return by in Pell Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 10:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pell Lake
2026-04-23T03:04
Arrive La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 6:33 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 29m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:29 AM to 11:29 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
10:02 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pell Lake
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
Dekorra
WI

Human settlement in Columbia County, Wisconsin, United States of America

From Pell Lake
109.8 mi
01h 44m
To La Crosse
103.2 mi
01h 44m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
78°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
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 Pell Lake and La Crosse.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pell Lake and La Crosse.

  1. 1

    Start on Wisteria Road

    91 m · 13 sec · Wisteria Road

  2. 2

    Continue on Moss

    2637 ft · 2 min · Moss

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Pell Lake Drive

    1.1 km · 3 min · Pell Lake Drive

  4. 4

    Turn sharp left

    576 ft · 33 sec

  5. 5

    Take the ramp straight

    681 ft · 17 sec

  6. 6

    Merge slight left

    12.5 mi · 13 min

  7. 7

    Take the exit slight right toward I 43, CTH NN: Beloit, Milwaukee

    951 ft · 23 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight left to continue on I 43: Milwaukee, Beloit

    2334 ft · 57 sec

  9. 9

    Keep slight left

    1297 ft · 32 sec

  10. 10

    Keep slight right to continue on I 43 South: Delavan, Beloit

    1293 ft · 32 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    12.2 mi · 13 min

  12. 12

    Take the exit slight right toward US 14: Darien, Janesville

    1398 ft · 34 sec

  13. 13

    Keep slight right

    37 m · 3 sec

  14. 14

    Merge slight left

    3.3 mi · 5 min

  15. 15

    Turn left

    11.2 mi · 15 min

  16. 16

    Turn left onto East Racine Street

    1.5 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward I-90 WEST, I-39 NORTH: Madison

    3 m · 1 sec

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto I-90 WEST, I-39 NORTH: Madison

    1465 ft · 18 sec

  19. 19

    Merge slight left

    65.8 mi · 1 hr 11 min

  20. 20

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  21. 21

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  22. 22

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  23. 23

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  24. 24

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  26. 26

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  27. 27

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  28. 28

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  29. 29

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Pell Lake 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
29 steps
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
10
4 merges, 6 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
13.6 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I-90 WEST
130 mi · 61%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 18%
Pell Lake Drive
13.3 mi · 6%
I 43 South
12.5 mi · 6%
US 14
3.58 mi · 2%
East Racine Street
1.46 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I-90 WEST

Merge slight left

65.8 mi · 01h 11m

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 29m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 58m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+43.2 mi
169.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Dekorra
01h 44m from Pell Lake
Leave By
10:02 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Pell Lake 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 Pell Lake to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 212.9 miles (342.7 km) and usually takes 03h 29m 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?

Dekorra is a useful midpoint, sitting about 109.8 miles from Pell Lake and 103.2 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 169.7 miles (273.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 43.2 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 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:02 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.36 one way or $56.72 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Dekorra

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

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

RAIL

Portage

10 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

31 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
RAIL

Columbus

39 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
BUS

Madison, Wisconsin

43 mi away
800 Langdon St.

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Pell Lake and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 169.72 mi (273.13 km).

Pell Lake

#1 Pell Lake

Census designated place

Population3,722
Coordinates42.5380700, -88.3509300
Altitude263
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: Wisteria Road (-88.35093, 42.53805)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 343 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 05m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 19m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 15m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 32m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 02m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 39m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.52 gal
28.45 L · about $28.36
Round trip
$56.72
15.04 gal · 56.9 L
Estimated CO2
66.8 kg one way
Round trip: 133.7 kg / 295 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.36 $56.72
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.98 $63.97
Premium $4.65 $35.00 $70.00
Diesel $5.30 $39.89 $79.77

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 Pell Lake and La Crosse. The current time is 03:04:29.

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.