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

The driving distance from Pine Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 255.9 miles (411.8 km), with a travel time of about 04h 37m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 177.9 miles (286.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 14m 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
255.88 mi
04h 37m
Flight
177.89 mi
286.28 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Pine Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
177.89 mi
Kilometers
286.28 km
Flight Time
00h 21m

Driving Distance

Road route
255.88 mi
Kilometers
411.8 km
Drive Time
04h 37m

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 37m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 10:39 AM CDT
Return by in Pine Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 3:17 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Pine Lake
2026-04-23T06:02
Arrive La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 10:39 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 37m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:37 AM to 12:37 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
7:46 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Pine Lake
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

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 Pine Lake
126.1 mi
02h 18m
To La Crosse
129.8 mi
02h 18m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Thursday

Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
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 Pine Lake and La Crosse.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on Finn Point Road

    1176 ft · 53 sec · Finn Point Road

  2. 2

    Turn right onto South End Road

    1069 ft · 54 sec · South End Road

  3. 3

    Turn sharp left

    112.7 mi · 2 hr 31 min

  4. 4

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

    12.5 mi · 14 min

  5. 5

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

    1570 ft · 38 sec

  6. 6

    Keep slight right

    61 m · 7 sec

  7. 7

    Turn straight onto State Highway 34

    879 ft · 17 sec · State Highway 34

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34

    38 m · 2 sec · State Highway 34

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34

    9.7 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34

  10. 10

    Take the ramp right

    1266 ft · 31 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 10

    3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10

  12. 12

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

    1767 ft · 49 sec

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Victory Road

    15.2 mi · 22 min · Victory Road

  14. 14

    Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South

    2831 ft · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South

  15. 15

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

    57 m · 3 sec · 2nd Avenue South

  16. 16

    Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South

  17. 17

    Continue on Wisconsin River Drive

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive

  18. 18

    Turn right onto Letendre Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 54

    2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54

  20. 20

    Turn left onto County Highway G

    2 mi · 3 min · County Highway G

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 173

    9.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 173

  22. 22

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

    125 m · 7 sec · State Highway 80

  23. 23

    Continue on State Highway 173

    1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 173

  24. 24

    Continue on State Highway 173

    23.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 173

  25. 25

    Turn right onto State Highway 21

    4 mi · 5 min · State Highway 21

  26. 26

    Continue on East McCoy Boulevard

    1684 ft · 34 sec · East McCoy Boulevard

  27. 27

    Continue on State Highway 21

    640 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 21

  28. 28

    Take the exit straight

    1644 ft · 42 sec

  29. 29

    Merge slight left

    2.8 mi · 3 min

  30. 30

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

    1.2 km · 51 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left

    38.1 mi · 41 min

  32. 32

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  33. 33

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  34. 34

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  35. 35

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  36. 36

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  37. 37

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  38. 38

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  39. 39

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

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

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
39 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
13
3 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
15.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 90 West
38.8 mi · 15%
State Highway 173
34 mi · 13%
Victory Road
15.2 mi · 6%
I 39 South
12.5 mi · 5%
State Highway 34
10.1 mi · 4%
State Highway 21
7.16 mi · 3%
Longest Stretch

Longest stretch

Turn sharp left

113 mi · 02h 31m

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 37m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 14m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+78 mi
177.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Knowlton
02h 18m from Pine Lake
Leave By
7:46 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain leaving Pine 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 Pine Lake to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 255.9 miles (411.8 km) and usually takes 04h 37m 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 126.1 miles from Pine Lake and 129.8 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 177.9 miles (286.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 78 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 7:46 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $34.05 one way or $68.10 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 80.2 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain around Pine Lake and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms 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 Pine Lake and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 177.89 mi (286.28 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Pine Lake

Unincorporated community in Iron County, Wisconsin

Population2,746
Coordinates46.2560600, -90.1407300
Altitude495
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: Finn Point Road (-90.140671, 46.255988)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 412 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)08h 31m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)06h 23m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)05h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)04h 15m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 39m
80 mph (129 km/h)03h 11m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
9.03 gal
34.18 L · about $34.05
Round trip
$68.10
18.06 gal · 68.36 L
Estimated CO2
80.2 kg one way
Round trip: 160.5 kg / 354 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $34.05 $68.10
Mid-grade $4.25 $38.40 $76.81
Premium $4.65 $42.03 $84.05
Diesel $5.30 $47.90 $95.79

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 Pine Lake and La Crosse. The current time is 06:02:28.

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.