How far is Rhinelander, WI from La Crosse, WI?
The driving distance from Rhinelander, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 205.5 miles (330.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 39m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 155.3 miles (250 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 07h 19m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 39m.
An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.
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.
Village in Wood County, Wisconsin, United States
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Rhinelander and La Crosse.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Rhinelander and La Crosse.
-
1
Start on West King Street
61 m · 9 sec · West King Street
-
2
Turn right onto South Stevens Street
109 m · 10 sec · South Stevens Street
-
3
Continue on South Petham Street
1319 ft · 40 sec · South Petham Street
-
4
Continue on Arbutus Street
145 m · 17 sec · Arbutus Street
-
5
Turn right onto West Kemp Street
1.2 mi · 2 min · West Kemp Street
-
6
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US Highway 8
41 m · 8 sec · US Highway 8
-
7
Exit the roundabout onto US Highway 8
2.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 8
-
8
Continue on US 8
11.6 mi · 16 min · US 8
-
9
Turn left
2168 ft · 53 sec
-
10
Merge slight left
46.3 mi · 53 min
-
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
12.5 mi · 14 min
-
12
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
1570 ft · 38 sec
-
13
Keep slight right
61 m · 5 sec
-
14
Turn straight onto State Highway 34
879 ft · 17 sec · State Highway 34
-
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34
38 m · 2 sec · State Highway 34
-
16
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34
9.7 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34
-
17
Take the ramp right
1266 ft · 31 sec
-
18
Merge slight left onto US Highway 10
3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10
-
19
Take the exit slight right toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
1767 ft · 49 sec
-
20
Turn left onto Victory Road
15.2 mi · 22 min · Victory Road
-
21
Turn right onto 2nd Avenue South
2831 ft · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South
-
22
Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward 2nd Avenue South
57 m · 3 sec · 2nd Avenue South
-
23
Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South
1.3 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South
-
24
Continue on Wisconsin River Drive
1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive
-
25
Turn right onto Letendre Avenue
1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue
-
26
Continue on State Highway 54
2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54
-
27
Turn left onto County Highway G
2 mi · 3 min · County Highway G
-
28
Continue on State Highway 173
9.1 mi · 14 min · State Highway 173
-
29
At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 80
125 m · 7 sec · State Highway 80
-
30
Continue on State Highway 173
1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 173
-
31
Continue on State Highway 173
23.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 173
-
32
Turn right onto State Highway 21
4 mi · 5 min · State Highway 21
-
33
Continue on East McCoy Boulevard
1684 ft · 34 sec · East McCoy Boulevard
-
34
Continue on State Highway 21
640 ft · 12 sec · State Highway 21
-
35
Take the exit straight
1644 ft · 42 sec
-
36
Merge slight left
2.8 mi · 3 min
-
37
Take the exit slight right toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
1.2 km · 51 sec
-
38
Merge slight left
38.1 mi · 41 min
-
39
Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: La Crosse, Onalaska
1636 ft · 42 sec
-
40
At the end of the road, turn left
4.9 mi · 9 min
-
41
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North
-
42
Turn right onto Main Street
1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street
-
43
Turn left onto 16th Street South
1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South
-
44
Turn right onto Johnson Street
1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street
-
45
At the end of the road, turn right onto West Avenue South
99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South
-
46
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Rhinelander and La Crosse.
Highway-focused drive
Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.
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.
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.
Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rhinelander 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 Rhinelander to La Crosse?
The road trip is about 205.5 miles (330.7 km) and usually takes 03h 39m 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?
Biron is a useful midpoint, sitting about 100.9 miles from Rhinelander and 104.6 miles from La Crosse.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 155.3 miles (250 km), while the road route adds roughly 50.2 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 9:40 AM CDT.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.34 one way or $54.68 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.4 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms around Rhinelander and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near La Crosse.
Stop Ideas Near Biron
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Biron.
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Stevens Point, Wisconsin
Stevens Point, WI
Waupaca, Wisconsin
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Rhinelander and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 155.32 mi (249.97 km).
#1 Rhinelander
City in and county seat of Oneida County, Wisconsin
| Population | 7,637 |
| Coordinates | 45.6366200, -89.4120800 |
| Altitude | 472 |
| Country | United States |
#2 La Crosse
The most populous city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.
| Population | 51,163 |
| Coordinates | 43.8013600, -91.2395800 |
| Altitude | 204 |
| Country | United States |
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 331 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 06h 50m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 05h 08m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 04h 06m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 03h 25m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 02h 56m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 02h 33m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $27.34 | $54.68 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $30.83 | $61.67 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $33.74 | $67.48 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $38.45 | $76.91 |
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
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.