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

The driving distance from Random Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 197.5 miles (317.8 km), with a travel time of about 03h 36m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 164.7 miles (265 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 12m 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
197.49 mi
03h 36m
Flight
164.69 mi
265.04 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Random Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
164.69 mi
Kilometers
265.04 km
Flight Time
00h 19m

Driving Distance

Road route
197.49 mi
Kilometers
317.83 km
Drive Time
03h 36m

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 36m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Wed, Apr 22, 11:53 PM CDT
Return by in Random Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 3:30 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Random Lake
2026-04-22T20:17
Arrive La Crosse
Wed, Apr 22, 11:53 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 36m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:36 AM to 11:36 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
9:48 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Random 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
Lewiston
WI

Town in Wisconsin, USA

From Random Lake
99.2 mi
01h 48m
To La Crosse
98.4 mi
01h 48m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
62°F
Wednesday

Sunny

Starts
Wed, Apr 22 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 10 mph E
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 Random Lake and La Crosse.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on 3rd Street

    19 m · 5 sec · 3rd Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto Carroll Street

    561 ft · 30 sec · Carroll Street

  3. 3

    Turn left onto 5th Street

    129 m · 20 sec · 5th Street

  4. 4

    Turn right onto Allen Street

    61 m · 11 sec · Allen Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Western Avenue

    1550 ft · 45 sec · Western Avenue

  6. 6

    Turn right onto North Spring Street

    1397 ft · 43 sec · North Spring Street

  7. 7

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 144

    5.3 mi · 8 min · State Highway 144

  8. 8

    Turn left onto State Highway 28

    2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 28

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 144

    1.7 mi · 2 min · State Highway 144

  10. 10

    Turn right onto Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway

    5.1 mi · 9 min · Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway

  11. 11

    Continue on Main Street

    1.1 km · 1 min · Main Street

  12. 12

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Fond du Lac Avenue

    3255 ft · 1 min · Fond du Lac Avenue

  13. 13

    Turn left onto Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway

    8.5 mi · 15 min · Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway

  14. 14

    Take the ramp right toward I 41 North, US 41 North: Appleton

    3190 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto Appleton

    5.3 mi · 6 min

  16. 16

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 49, CTH KK, US 41 North Alternate: Brownsville, Waupun

    1551 ft · 38 sec

  17. 17

    Keep slight left

    39 m · 3 sec

  18. 18

    Turn left onto State Highway 49

    1352 ft · 27 sec · State Highway 49

  19. 19

    Continue on Main Street

    3 mi · 5 min · Main Street

  20. 20

    Continue on State Highway 49

    11.4 mi · 17 min · State Highway 49

  21. 21

    Take the ramp left

    1841 ft · 45 sec

  22. 22

    Merge slight left

    5.8 mi · 7 min

  23. 23

    Turn right onto County Road C

    6 mi · 8 min · County Road C

  24. 24

    Turn right onto County Road A

    1108 ft · 17 sec · County Road A

  25. 25

    Continue on East State Street

    1419 ft · 36 sec · East State Street

  26. 26

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 68

    47 m · 4 sec · State Highway 68

  27. 27

    Continue on East State Street

    1 mi · 2 min · East State Street

  28. 28

    Continue on State Highway 33

    27.2 mi · 40 min · State Highway 33

  29. 29

    Continue on East Cook Street

    4.9 mi · 7 min · East Cook Street

  30. 30

    Take the ramp slight right

    2038 ft · 50 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left

    60.2 mi · 1 hr 5 min

  32. 32

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  33. 33

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  34. 34

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  35. 35

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  36. 36

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  37. 37

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  38. 38

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  39. 39

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  40. 40

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Random 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
40 steps
19 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
8
3 merges, 5 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.3 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
East Cook Street
65.5 mi · 33%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 20%
State Highway 33
27.2 mi · 14%
State Highway 49
17.9 mi · 9%
Wisconsin 9/11 Memorial Highway
13.6 mi · 7%
State Highway 144
6.96 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

East Cook Street

Merge slight left

60.2 mi · 01h 05m

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 36m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
07h 12m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+32.8 mi
164.7 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewiston
01h 48m from Random Lake
Leave By
9:48 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Random Lake 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 Random Lake to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 197.5 miles (317.8 km) and usually takes 03h 36m 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?

Lewiston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 99.2 miles from Random Lake and 98.4 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 164.7 miles (265 km), while the road route adds roughly 32.8 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 9:48 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $26.28 one way or $52.57 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 61.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Lewiston

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

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

RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

12 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
RAIL

Portage

14 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
BUS

Westfield, WI

36 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Columbus

57 mi away
359 North Ludington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Random Lake and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 164.69 mi (265.04 km).

Random Lake

#1 Random Lake

Village in Sheboygan County, Wisconsin, United States

Population1,567
Coordinates43.5522200, -87.9617600
Altitude271
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: 3rd Street (-87.961758, 43.552105)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 318 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 34m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 56m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 56m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 17m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 49m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 27m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6.97 gal
26.38 L · about $26.28
Round trip
$52.57
13.94 gal · 52.76 L
Estimated CO2
61.9 kg one way
Round trip: 123.9 kg / 273 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $26.28 $52.57
Mid-grade $4.25 $29.64 $59.29
Premium $4.65 $32.44 $64.88
Diesel $5.30 $36.97 $73.94

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 Random Lake and La Crosse. The current time is 20:17:24.

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.