How far is West Milwaukee, WI from La Crosse, WI?

The driving distance from West Milwaukee, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km), with a travel time of about 03h 19m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 172.8 miles (278.1 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 39m 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
208.93 mi
03h 19m
Flight
172.8 mi
278.09 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from West Milwaukee.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
172.8 mi
Kilometers
278.09 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
208.93 mi
Kilometers
336.24 km
Drive Time
03h 19m

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 19m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Sat, May 30, 11:18 AM CDT
Return by in West Milwaukee
Sat, May 30, 2:38 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave West Milwaukee
2026-05-30T07:58
Arrive La Crosse
Sat, May 30, 11:18 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 19m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:20 AM to 11:20 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
10:20 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in West Milwaukee
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

This departure sits inside the recommended comfort window for the route.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Lewiston
WI

Town in Wisconsin, USA

From West Milwaukee
104.1 mi
01h 39m
To La Crosse
104.8 mi
01h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
72°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 West Milwaukee and La Crosse.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Milwaukee and La Crosse.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    94 m · 24 sec

  2. 2

    Turn left

    96 m · 25 sec

  3. 3

    Turn right

    1199 ft · 1 min

  4. 4

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

    100 m · 15 sec · West Greenfield Avenue

  5. 5

    Turn left onto South 47th Street

    1220 ft · 44 sec · South 47th Street

  6. 6

    Turn right onto West National Avenue

    651 ft · 21 sec · West National Avenue

  7. 7

    Turn left onto Brewers Boulevard

    1.1 km · 1 min · Brewers Boulevard

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward I 94 West: Madison

    1769 ft · 40 sec

  9. 9

    Merge slight right onto East-West Freeway

    14 mi · 17 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 West Milwaukee 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
11 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
3
1 merges, 2 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
10.1 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 44%
East-West Freeway
67.5 mi · 32%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 19%
16th Street South
0.78 mi
Brewers Boulevard
0.7 mi
Main Street
0.67 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 19m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 40m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.1 mi
172.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Lewiston
01h 39m from West Milwaukee
Leave By
10:20 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Sunny leaving West Milwaukee 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 West Milwaukee to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 208.9 miles (336.2 km) and usually takes 03h 19m 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 104.1 miles from West Milwaukee and 104.8 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 172.8 miles (278.1 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.1 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 10:20 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.79 one way or $55.58 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 65.5 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Sunny around West Milwaukee 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 West Milwaukee and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 172.8 mi (278.09 km).

West Milwaukee

#1 West Milwaukee

Village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin

Population4,090
Coordinates43.0125100, -87.9725900
Altitude200
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: (-87.972622, 43.012511)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 336 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 57m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 13m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 10m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 28m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 59m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 36m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.37 gal
27.91 L · about $27.79
Round trip
$55.58
14.74 gal · 55.82 L
Estimated CO2
65.5 kg one way
Round trip: 131 kg / 289 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.79 $55.58
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.34 $62.69
Premium $4.65 $34.30 $68.60
Diesel $5.30 $39.09 $78.18

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 West Milwaukee and La Crosse. The current time is 07:58:53.

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.