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

The driving distance from Waterford, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 210 miles (337.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 25m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.2 miles (270.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 50m 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
209.97 mi
03h 25m
Flight
168.22 mi
270.72 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Waterford.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.22 mi
Kilometers
270.72 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
209.97 mi
Kilometers
337.92 km
Drive Time
03h 25m

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 25m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 10:38 PM CDT
Return by in Waterford
Sun, Apr 19, 2:03 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Waterford
2026-04-18T19:12
Arrive La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 10:38 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 25m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:25 AM to 11:25 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
10:10 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Waterford
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 Waterford
104.3 mi
01h 42m
To La Crosse
105.6 mi
01h 42m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
60°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
15 mph W
Destination
47°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
9 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on South River Street

    16 m · 8 sec · South River Street

  2. 2

    Turn left onto West Main Street

    1.5 km · 2 min · West Main Street

  3. 3

    Continue on High Drive

    1895 ft · 40 sec · High Drive

  4. 4

    Turn straight onto Northwest Highway

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Northwest Highway

  5. 5

    Continue on State Highway 83

    1511 ft · 24 sec · State Highway 83

  6. 6

    Continue on South Rochester Street

    3.3 mi · 7 min · South Rochester Street

  7. 7

    Continue on State Highway 83

    2.9 mi · 4 min · State Highway 83

  8. 8

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    30 m · 6 sec · State Highway 83

  9. 9

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    1.3 km · 1 min · State Highway 83

  10. 10

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    31 m · 6 sec · State Highway 83

  11. 11

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 83

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    39 m · 8 sec · State Highway 83

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    2.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 83

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    41 m · 8 sec · State Highway 83

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    1568 ft · 30 sec · State Highway 83

  16. 16

    Continue on South Wales Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South Wales Road

  17. 17

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward West Summit Avenue

    54 m · 10 sec · West Summit Avenue

  18. 18

    Exit the roundabout onto West Summit Avenue

    565 ft · 14 sec · West Summit Avenue

  19. 19

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Summit Avenue

    21 m · 4 sec · West Summit Avenue

  20. 20

    Exit the roundabout onto West Summit Avenue

    125 m · 10 sec · West Summit Avenue

  21. 21

    Continue on US Highway 18

    1.4 km · 1 min · US Highway 18

  22. 22

    Turn right onto County Highway C

    2.8 mi · 5 min · County Highway C

  23. 23

    Take the ramp left toward I 94 West

    1824 ft · 45 sec

  24. 24

    Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

    44.8 mi · 48 min · East-West Freeway

  25. 25

    Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  26. 26

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  27. 27

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  28. 28

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  29. 29

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  30. 30

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  31. 31

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  32. 32

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  33. 33

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  34. 34

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  35. 35

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Waterford 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
35 steps
20 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
1 merges, 14 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.7 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 44%
East-West Freeway
44.8 mi · 21%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 19%
State Highway 83
8.76 mi · 4%
Northwest Highway
5.92 mi · 3%
South Rochester Street
3.34 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Keep slight left

63.5 mi · 01h 08m

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 25m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 50m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.8 mi
168.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewiston
01h 42m from Waterford
Leave By
10:10 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Waterford and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Rain And Snow Showers near La Crosse.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Waterford to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 210 miles (337.9 km) and usually takes 03h 25m 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 104.3 miles from Waterford and 105.6 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 168.2 miles (270.7 km), while the road route adds roughly 41.8 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 10:10 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.94 one way or $55.89 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.9 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Waterford and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Rain And Snow Showers 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 Waterford and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 168.22 mi (270.72 km).

Waterford

#1 Waterford

Village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States

Population6,497
Coordinates42.7630700, -88.2142600
Altitude236
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: South River Street (-88.214312, 42.763082)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 338 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 59m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 14m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 11m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 29m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.41 gal
28.05 L · about $27.94
Round trip
$55.89
14.82 gal · 56.1 L
Estimated CO2
65.9 kg one way
Round trip: 131.7 kg / 290 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.94 $55.89
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.51 $63.03
Premium $4.65 $34.49 $68.97
Diesel $5.30 $39.30 $78.61

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 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Waterford and La Crosse. The current time is 19:12:40.

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.