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

The driving distance from Phelps, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 244.4 miles (393.3 km), with a travel time of about 04h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 188.5 miles (303.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 08h 54m 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
244.37 mi
04h 27m
Flight
188.47 mi
303.32 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Phelps.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
188.47 mi
Kilometers
303.32 km
Flight Time
00h 22m

Driving Distance

Road route
244.37 mi
Kilometers
393.28 km
Drive Time
04h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 2:28 AM CDT
Return by in Phelps
Thu, Apr 23, 6:56 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Phelps
2026-04-22T22:01
Arrive La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 2:28 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:27 AM to 12:27 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
8:06 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Phelps
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
Knowlton
WI

Civil town in Marathon County, Wisconsin

From Phelps
120.4 mi
02h 13m
To La Crosse
124 mi
02h 13m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
69°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 7 mph S
Destination
76°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
3 to 9 mph SE

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    34 m · 13 sec

  2. 2

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 17

    11.9 mi · 17 min · State Highway 17

  3. 3

    At the end of the road, turn left onto US Highway 45

    3.7 mi · 7 min · US Highway 45

  4. 4

    Continue on Bridge Street

    1707 ft · 1 min · Bridge Street

  5. 5

    Take the exit right toward WI 17

    2 mi · 4 min

  6. 6

    Continue on State Highway 17

    17.9 mi · 25 min · State Highway 17

  7. 7

    Continue on North Stevens Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · North Stevens Street

  8. 8

    Turn slight right

    553 ft · 19 sec

  9. 9

    Continue on North Stevens Street

    2.2 mi · 4 min · North Stevens Street

  10. 10

    Turn right onto West Davenport Street

    1.5 mi · 3 min · West Davenport Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto State Highway 47

    1168 ft · 27 sec · State Highway 47

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward US Highway 8

    8 m · 2 sec · US Highway 8

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 8

    2.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 8

  14. 14

    Continue on US 8

    11.6 mi · 16 min · US 8

  15. 15

    Turn left

    2168 ft · 53 sec

  16. 16

    Merge slight left

    46.3 mi · 53 min

  17. 17

    Keep slight left to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  18. 18

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids

    1570 ft · 38 sec

  19. 19

    Keep slight right

    61 m · 7 sec

  20. 20

    Turn straight onto State Highway 34

    879 ft · 17 sec · State Highway 34

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34

    38 m · 2 sec · State Highway 34

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34

    9.7 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34

  23. 23

    Take the ramp right

    1266 ft · 31 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 10

    3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10

  25. 25

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids

    1767 ft · 49 sec

  26. 26

    Turn left onto Victory Road

    15.2 mi · 22 min · Victory Road

  27. 27

    Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South

    2831 ft · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South

  28. 28

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 2nd Avenue South

    57 m · 3 sec · 2nd Avenue South

  29. 29

    Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South

  30. 30

    Continue on Wisconsin River Drive

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Letendre Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue

  32. 32

    Continue on State Highway 54

    2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54

  33. 33

    Turn left onto County Highway G

    2 mi · 3 min · County Highway G

  34. 34

    Continue on State Highway 173

    9.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 173

  35. 35

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 80

    125 m · 7 sec · State Highway 80

  36. 36

    Continue on State Highway 173

    1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 173

  37. 37

    Continue on State Highway 173

    23.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 173

  38. 38

    Turn right onto State Highway 21

    4 mi · 5 min · State Highway 21

  39. 39

    Continue on East McCoy Boulevard

    1684 ft · 34 sec · East McCoy Boulevard

  40. 40

    Continue on State Highway 21

    640 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 21

  41. 41

    Take the exit straight

    1644 ft · 42 sec

  42. 42

    Merge slight left

    2.8 mi · 3 min

  43. 43

    Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea

    1.2 km · 51 sec

  44. 44

    Merge slight left

    38.1 mi · 41 min

  45. 45

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  46. 46

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  47. 47

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  48. 48

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  49. 49

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  50. 50

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  51. 51

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  52. 52

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Phelps 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
52 steps
24 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
17
4 merges, 13 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
21.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
US 8
57.9 mi · 24%
I 90 West
38.8 mi · 16%
State Highway 173
34 mi · 14%
State Highway 17
29.7 mi · 12%
Victory Road
15.2 mi · 6%
I 39 South
12.5 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

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.

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 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
08h 54m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+55.9 mi
188.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knowlton
02h 13m from Phelps
Leave By
8:06 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Phelps 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 Phelps to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 244.4 miles (393.3 km) and usually takes 04h 27m 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?

Knowlton is a useful midpoint, sitting about 120.4 miles from Phelps and 124 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 188.5 miles (303.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 55.9 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 8:06 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $32.51 one way or $65.01 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 76.6 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Knowlton

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

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

BUS

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

22 mi away
200 Division St.
BUS

Stevens Point, WI

23 mi away
2050 4th Avenue
BUS

Wausau, WI

27 mi away
555 Jefferson Street
BUS

Wausau, Wisconsin

28 mi away
2415 Trailwood Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Phelps and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 188.47 mi (303.32 km).

Phelps

#1 Phelps

Town in Vilas County, Wisconsin, United States

Population1,291
Coordinates46.0644000, -89.0876300
Altitude528
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: (-89.087976, 46.064212)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 393 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 08m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 06m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 53m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 04m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 29m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 02m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
8.62 gal
32.64 L · about $32.51
Round trip
$65.01
17.24 gal · 65.28 L
Estimated CO2
76.6 kg one way
Round trip: 153.2 kg / 338 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $32.51 $65.01
Mid-grade $4.25 $36.66 $73.32
Premium $4.65 $40.12 $80.23
Diesel $5.30 $45.72 $91.44

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 Phelps and La Crosse. The current time is 22:01:20.

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.