How far is Wind Lake, WI from La Crosse, WI?

The driving distance from Wind Lake, WI to La Crosse, WI is about 210.6 miles (338.9 km), with a travel time of about 03h 27m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 168.8 miles (271.7 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 55m 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
210.59 mi
03h 27m
Flight
168.8 mi
271.65 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Wind Lake.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
168.8 mi
Kilometers
271.65 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
210.59 mi
Kilometers
338.91 km
Drive Time
03h 27m

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 27m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 4:25 AM CDT
Return by in Wind Lake
Thu, Apr 23, 7:52 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Wind Lake
2026-04-23T00:57
Arrive La Crosse
Thu, Apr 23, 4:25 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 27m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:28 AM to 11:28 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
10:04 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Wind Lake
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
Portage
WI

Fourth-class city in Columbia County, Wisconsin

From Wind Lake
106.6 mi
01h 43m
To La Crosse
104 mi
01h 43m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
5 to 15 mph S
Destination
74°F
Thursday

Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Thu, Apr 23 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
8 to 16 mph S

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Wind Lake and La Crosse.

  1. 1

    Start on Oak Ridge Drive

    5 m · 1 sec · Oak Ridge Drive

  2. 2

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway Y

    8 m · 1 sec · County Highway Y

  3. 3

    Exit the roundabout onto County Highway Y

    1.5 km · 2 min · County Highway Y

  4. 4

    Continue on Racine Avenue

    1 mi · 2 min · Racine Avenue

  5. 5

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward County Highway Y

    23 m · 2 sec · Racine Avenue

  6. 6

    Exit the rotary onto Racine Avenue

    5.7 mi · 10 min · Racine Avenue

  7. 7

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward South Racine Avenue

    30 m · 2 sec · South Racine Avenue

  8. 8

    Exit the roundabout onto South Racine Avenue

    560 ft · 11 sec · South Racine Avenue

  9. 9

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South Racine Avenue

    40 m · 3 sec · South Racine Avenue

  10. 10

    Exit the roundabout onto South Racine Avenue

    5.2 mi · 9 min · South Racine Avenue

  11. 11

    Turn right onto Les Paul Parkway

    2.1 mi · 4 min · Les Paul Parkway

  12. 12

    Turn right onto East Moreland Boulevard

    1.7 mi · 3 min · East Moreland Boulevard

  13. 13

    Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 West, WI 164 North: Madison

    1938 ft · 47 sec

  14. 14

    Keep slight left

    3023 ft · 1 min

  15. 15

    Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

    3.1 mi · 3 min · East-West Freeway

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

    53.5 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

  17. 17

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

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  18. 18

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  19. 19

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

    39.1 mi · 42 min

  20. 20

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

    1636 ft · 42 sec

  21. 21

    At the end of the road, turn left

    4.9 mi · 9 min

  22. 22

    Continue on Losey Boulevard North

    2575 ft · 2 min · Losey Boulevard North

  23. 23

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1.1 km · 2 min · Main Street

  24. 24

    Turn left onto 16th Street South

    1.3 km · 2 min · 16th Street South

  25. 25

    Turn right onto Johnson Street

    1824 ft · 1 min · Johnson Street

  26. 26

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

    99 m · 11 sec · West Avenue South

  27. 27

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · West Avenue South

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Wind Lake 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
27 steps
15 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
11
1 merges, 10 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
12.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 44%
East-West Freeway
56.6 mi · 27%
I 90 West
39.1 mi · 19%
Racine Avenue
6.72 mi · 3%
South Racine Avenue
5.31 mi · 3%
Les Paul Parkway
2.05 mi · 1%
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 27m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 56m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+41.8 mi
168.8 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Portage
01h 43m from Wind Lake
Leave By
10:04 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Sunny leaving Wind Lake 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 Wind Lake to La Crosse?

The road trip is about 210.6 miles (338.9 km) and usually takes 03h 27m 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?

Portage is a useful midpoint, sitting about 106.6 miles from Wind Lake and 104 miles from La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 168.8 miles (271.7 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 10:04 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $28.02 one way or $56.04 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 66 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Sunny around Wind Lake and Mostly Sunny then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms near La Crosse.

Stop Ideas Near Portage

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

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

RAIL

Portage

1 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

27 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Westfield, WI

39 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Columbus

43 mi away
359 North Ludington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Wind Lake and La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 168.8 mi (271.65 km).

Wind Lake

#1 Wind Lake

Census designated place

Population5,342
Coordinates42.8294600, -88.1587000
Altitude242
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: Oak Ridge Drive (-88.158709, 42.829446)
End: West Avenue South (-91.239623, 43.801338)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 339 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 01m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 12m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 30m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 00m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 37m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.43 gal
28.13 L · about $28.02
Round trip
$56.04
14.86 gal · 56.26 L
Estimated CO2
66 kg one way
Round trip: 132.1 kg / 291 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $28.02 $56.04
Mid-grade $4.25 $31.60 $63.20
Premium $4.65 $34.58 $69.16
Diesel $5.30 $39.41 $78.82

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 Wind Lake and La Crosse. The current time is 00:57:29.

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.