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

The driving distance from Wauwatosa, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 206.6 miles (332.5 km), with a travel time of about 03h 10m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 170.3 miles (274 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 21m 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
206.6 mi
03h 10m
Flight
170.29 mi
274.05 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wauwatosa.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
170.29 mi
Kilometers
274.05 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
206.6 mi
Kilometers
332.49 km
Drive Time
03h 10m

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 10m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Sat, May 30, 4:03 AM CDT
Return by in Wauwatosa
Sat, May 30, 7:14 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wauwatosa
2026-05-30T00:52
Arrive La Crosse
Sat, May 30, 4:03 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 10m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:11 AM to 11:11 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
10:38 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wauwatosa
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 Wauwatosa
103 mi
01h 35m
To La Crosse
103.6 mi
01h 35m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
73°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
0 to 10 mph NE
Destination
85°F
Saturday

Sunny

Starts
Sat, May 30 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
1 to 8 mph E

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West State Street

    42 m · 6 sec · West State Street

  2. 2

    Continue on West Menomonee River Parkway

    110 m · 22 sec · West Menomonee River Parkway

  3. 3

    Turn left onto Harmonee Avenue

    876 ft · 30 sec · Harmonee Avenue

  4. 4

    Turn slight right onto Harwood Avenue

    158 m · 16 sec · Harwood Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto North Glenview Avenue

    1.1 mi · 3 min · North Glenview Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on South 84th Street

    1146 ft · 35 sec · South 84th Street

  7. 7

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 West

    988 ft · 26 sec

  8. 8

    Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Madison

    1.2 km · 2 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

    10.8 mi · 13 min · East-West Freeway

  10. 10

    Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

    53.5 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

  11. 11

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

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  12. 12

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  13. 13

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  14. 14

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  15. 15

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  16. 16

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  17. 17

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  18. 18

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  19. 19

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  20. 20

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  21. 21

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wauwatosa 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
21 steps
8 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.2 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 45%
East-West Freeway
64.3 mi · 31%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 19%
North Glenview Avenue
1.13 mi · 1%
I 94 West
0.96 mi
16th Street South
0.78 mi
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 10m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 22m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.3 mi
170.3 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewiston
01h 35m from Wauwatosa
Leave By
10:38 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 206.6 miles (332.5 km) and usually takes 03h 10m 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 103 miles from Wauwatosa and 103.6 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 170.3 miles (274 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.3 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 10:38 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.49 one way or $54.98 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.8 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around Wauwatosa 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 Wauwatosa and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 170.29 mi (274.05 km).

Wauwatosa

#1 Wauwatosa

A city in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin.

Population48,084
Coordinates43.0494600, -88.0075900
Altitude203
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: West State Street (-88.007649, 43.049316)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 332 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 53m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 57m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.29 gal
27.6 L · about $27.49
Round trip
$54.98
14.58 gal · 55.2 L
Estimated CO2
64.8 kg one way
Round trip: 129.6 kg / 286 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.49 $54.98
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.00 $62.01
Premium $4.65 $33.93 $67.86
Diesel $5.30 $38.67 $77.33

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 · May 30, 2026

There is no time difference between Wauwatosa and La Crosse. The current time is 00:52:41.

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.