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

The driving distance from Ripon, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 136.1 miles (219 km), with a travel time of about 02h 30m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 119.9 miles (192.9 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 05h 00m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
136.06 mi
02h 30m
Flight
119.85 mi
192.88 km direct

This route works well as a day trip with time at the destination.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Ripon.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
119.85 mi
Kilometers
192.88 km
Flight Time
00h 14m

Driving Distance

Road route
136.06 mi
Kilometers
218.97 km
Drive Time
02h 30m

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 02h 30m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 1:09 AM CDT
Return by in Ripon
Thu, Apr 23, 3:39 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Ripon
2026-04-22T22:39
Arrive La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 1:09 AM CDT
Route Timing
02h 30m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT
Aim for a morning departure
Arrive between
10:30 AM to 12:30 PM CDT

A morning start gives you useful time at the destination and keeps the return out of the late evening.

Leave by
1:30 PM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 03h 00m at the destination.
Back in Ripon
9:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best

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
Mauston
WI

City in and county seat of Juneau County, Wisconsin

From Ripon
67.8 mi
01h 15m
To La Crosse
68.3 mi
01h 15m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
70°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 Ripon and La Crosse.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    42 m · 14 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    90 m · 26 sec

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Houston Street

    51 m · 13 sec · Houston Street

  4. 4

    Turn left onto Seward Street

    833 ft · 38 sec · Seward Street

  5. 5

    At the end of the road, turn right onto Seward Street

    39 m · 6 sec · Seward Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto Watson Street

    859 ft · 25 sec · Watson Street

  7. 7

    Turn left onto West Fond du Lac Street

    2.1 mi · 4 min · West Fond du Lac Street

  8. 8

    Continue on State Highway 23 & 49

    3.7 mi · 5 min · State Highway 23 & 49

  9. 9

    Turn straight onto State Highway 23

    9.2 mi · 13 min · State Highway 23

  10. 10

    Continue on South Fulton Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · South Fulton Street

  11. 11

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.3 km · 1 min · West Main Street

  12. 12

    Turn left

    46 m · 3 sec

  13. 13

    Continue on South 2nd Street

    2515 ft · 43 sec · South 2nd Street

  14. 14

    Continue on State Highway 23

    9.9 mi · 15 min · State Highway 23

  15. 15

    Continue on East Montello Street

    3142 ft · 57 sec · East Montello Street

  16. 16

    Continue on West Montello Street

    635 ft · 11 sec · West Montello Street

  17. 17

    Turn slight right onto Underwood Avenue

    1.8 mi · 3 min · Underwood Avenue

  18. 18

    Continue on State Highway 23

    6.1 mi · 8 min · State Highway 23

  19. 19

    Continue on State Highway 82

    3.5 mi · 5 min · State Highway 82

  20. 20

    Continue on East Ormsby Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · East Ormsby Street

  21. 21

    Continue on State Highway 82

    24.5 mi · 36 min · State Highway 82

  22. 22

    Keep slight right

    85 m · 5 sec

  23. 23

    Take the ramp right

    1756 ft · 43 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left

    23.5 mi · 25 min

  25. 25

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  26. 26

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  27. 27

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  28. 28

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  30. 30

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  32. 32

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Ripon 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
33 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
24.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 82
52 mi · 38%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 29%
State Highway 23
25.2 mi · 19%
State Highway 23 & 49
3.71 mi · 3%
West Fond du Lac Street
2.07 mi · 2%
Underwood Avenue
1.84 mi · 1%
Longest Stretch

I 90 West

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

39.1 mi · 00h 42m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A comfortable day-trip route

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

Drive Time
02h 30m
Day trip friendly
Same-Day Return
05h 00m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+16.2 mi
119.9 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Mauston
01h 15m from Ripon
Leave By
1:30 PM CDT
Morning start is best
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Ripon 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 Ripon to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 136.1 miles (219 km) and usually takes 02h 30m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This route works well as a day trip. You can leave in the morning, spend meaningful time at the destination, and still return the same day.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Mauston is a useful midpoint, sitting about 67.8 miles from Ripon and 68.3 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 119.9 miles (192.9 km), while the road route adds roughly 16.2 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 8:00 AM to 10:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 1:30 PM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $18.10 one way or $36.20 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 42.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

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

Stop Ideas Near Mauston

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

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

RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

31 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
RAIL

Tomah

40 mi away
North Superior Ave. and Washington St.
BUS

Westfield, WI

49 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Portage

56 mi away
400 West Oneida Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Ripon and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 119.85 mi (192.88 km).

Ripon

#1 Ripon

Civil town in Fond du Lac County, Wisconsin

Population1,371
Coordinates43.8422000, -88.8359400
Altitude284
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: East Fond du Lac Street (-88.836208, 43.841874)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 219 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)04h 32m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)03h 24m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)02h 43m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 16m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)01h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)01h 41m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
4.8 gal
18.17 L · about $18.10
Round trip
$36.20
9.6 gal · 36.34 L
Estimated CO2
42.7 kg one way
Round trip: 85.3 kg / 188 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $18.10 $36.20
Mid-grade $4.25 $20.41 $40.83
Premium $4.65 $22.34 $44.68
Diesel $5.30 $25.46 $50.92

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 Ripon and La Crosse. The current time is 22:39:43.

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.