Overview
La Crosse is a city in the Coulee Region of Southwest Wisconsin on the Mississippi River. It is the county seat of La Crosse County. It's nestled between the river and picturesque bluffs that rise behind it. With a city population of around 50,000 and the metropolitan area just under 100,000, La Crosse offers visitors plenty of activities to do and sights to see, without the overwhelming hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
7 sights · 5 things to do · 1 places to eat · 3 places to stay
Updated from Wikivoyage on 1 October 2026 · Something wrong or missing? Improve it on Wikivoyage
Best things about La Crosse
Chatty Belle
The largest talking cow in the world. For 25¢, she will tell you facts about Wisconsin. It is next to the building that was used in 1964 New York World's Fair, which now serves as a radio station.
Downtown
La Crosse has rejuvenated its downtown, which features a collection of bars, restaurants, high-end hotels and shops presented with an old-town feel. There is also the La Crosse Center, a large civic center with ongoing e…
Riverside Park
An expansive walkway and park straddles the river with excellent views of the Cass Street Bridge, Pettibone Park, and Minnesota.
The Bluffs
Numerous trails of varying difficulty levels course through the many bluffs behind the city, with magnificent views at the top.
Myrick Park
This park adjacent to UW-La Crosse is great for having a picnic and relaxing. It features an eco-park (under construction) and connects to a trail that runs under Highway 16 and climbs up the bluffs. This is the best pla…
Pettibone Park
On an island in the Mississippi, this park has a beach and a free Frisbee Golf Course (don't forget your disks).
Plan your trip
Best time to visit & weather
Most comfortable: May–Sep. Summer highs reach about 82°F; winter lows dip to about 11°F. Cold months (Jan, Feb, Dec) can bring snow and ice; check road conditions. Wettest: Jun and Jul. (climate data from nearby Dubuque)
Blue bars: average daily high and low (°F). Purple columns: average monthly rain and melted snow (inches).
Getting there
- From you: to see whether to drive or fly, and how long it takes.
- LSE La Crosse Regional Airport, La Crosse — 5 mi away. Directions
- RST Rochester International Airport, Rochester — 63 mi away. Directions
- MSP Minneapolis–Saint Paul International Airport / Wold–Chamberlain Field, Minneapolis — 123 mi away (major hub). Directions
There are two intercity bus stations in La Crosse. One is at Grand River Station downtown. The other serves the University of La Crosse and is located at the Student Union building. Both are served by Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Wisconsin Coach Lines.
Full “Get in” guide ↓Budget & where to stay
No prices are listed for this place yet. See the Sleep guide ↓ for options.
Sample 3-day itinerary
Day 1
- Morning Downtown, Riverside Park, Pump House Regional Arts Center
- Lunch The Pearl
- Afternoon Pettibone Park, Loggers Baseball
Day 2
- Morning The Bluffs, Myrick Park
- Afternoon Pearl Street Brewery, Hixon House
Day 3
- Morning Chatty Belle, City Brewery
- Afternoon The Rivoli Theatre
Stops are grouped by area so each day needs little backtracking. Check opening hours before you go.
Food for you
Hundreds of restaurants are scattered throughout the La Crosse Metro area. You'll find anything within the city and suburbs like fast food such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Checkers, or Burger King for example. Also you can find a higher end setting like the Waterfront, the Freight House or Piggy's, which are all downtown. Gloria Jeans, Starbucks, and Caribou Coffee can also be found in La Crosse.
Cuisine (tap to filter)
What to ask about, for your diet
Diet labels come from each listing's description and cuisine; “likely” means the cuisine usually has good choices, not a promise. Check with the restaurant. Open the food finder
Photos
Map
Every listing with a location. Tap a pin for its Google Maps link.
Get in
By plane
By train
- Route stopping at La Crosse:
- Empire Builder operating daily between Seattle/Portland and Chicago including stops at Spokane, Glacier National Park, Fargo, Saint Paul, and Milwaukee. The trains split into separate branches between Seattle and Spokane, and between Portland and Spokane, while operating as trains consisting of train cars from both branches between Spokane and Chicago.
By bus
There are two intercity bus stations in La Crosse. One is at Grand River Station downtown. The other serves the University of La Crosse and is located at the Student Union building. Both are served by Greyhound, Jefferson Lines, and Wisconsin Coach Lines.
Get around
Several taxi companies serve the city and metro area. Walking and biking are also great ways to get around. Most of the city is walkable, and bikeable areas include UWL and the Marsh Trails. La Crosse is one of the most disabled-friendly cities in the USA.
By bus
Place Municipal Transit Utility (MTU)
Reliable choice for transportation, always on-schedule and the staff is extremely helpful when you need assistance, whether it is boarding the bus with disabilities or simply finding your route. The route consists of La Crosse and some surrounding suburbs including La Crescent and Onalaska.
See
See Downtown
La Crosse has rejuvenated its downtown, which features a collection of bars, restaurants, high-end hotels and shops presented with an old-town feel. There is also the La Crosse Center, a large civic center with ongoing events almost daily.
See Riverside Park
An expansive walkway and park straddles the river with excellent views of the Cass Street Bridge, Pettibone Park, and Minnesota.
See The Bluffs
Numerous trails of varying difficulty levels course through the many bluffs behind the city, with magnificent views at the top.
See Myrick Park
This park adjacent to UW-La Crosse is great for having a picnic and relaxing. It features an eco-park (under construction) and connects to a trail that runs under Highway 16 and climbs up the bluffs. This is the best place in town to go with younger kids: it features an expansive cooperatively built playground for all ages and abilities.
See Pettibone Park
On an island in the Mississippi, this park has a beach and a free Frisbee Golf Course (don't forget your disks).
See Pump House Regional Arts Center
The Pump House is a multi-disciplinary cultural center, providing a space for the visual, literary, and performing arts. Programming utilizes the repurposed building’s three art galleries, 140-seat theater, art classroom with pottery studio, and meeting spaces.
See Chatty Belle
The largest talking cow in the world. For 25¢, she will tell you facts about Wisconsin. It is next to the building that was used in 1964 New York World's Fair, which now serves as a radio station.
Do
Local activities include pub crawls downtown, where there's an abundance of bars and nightclubs. Downtown La Crosse is rarely quiet at night, especially on weekends. Alternatively, relax on a riverboat ride. La Crosse has various watercrafts, including two old-fashioned paddle boat, that voyage up and down the Mississippi, and can include dinner, lunch or breakfast. Golf enthusiasts can enjoy a round of golf at one of the beautiful golf courses throughout the metro. There are also many other ongoing annual events occur downtown such as Riverfest, or Oktoberfest. Many also in surrounding suburbs.
Do Pearl Street Brewery
For an excellent time, visit the Pearl Street Brewery, in a more than 100-year-old boot factory, this is one of Wisconsin's finest craft breweries. Live music by local and regional musicians is featured every Friday on their Happy Hour Stage and brewery tours take place each Saturday.
Do The Rivoli Theatre
Go see a movie at this unique dinner theater. The historic main theater features a grandiose decor and comfortable atmosphere. Lean back and catch a movie while enjoying one of their several draft beers and taking down a delicious pizza, made fresh to order. Admission is $4 for adults and $3 for students.
Learn
Buy
Many specialty shops and high-end stores are found throughout Downtown La Crosse. Numerous strip malls are located throughout the city including retail shops, coffee shops, office shops, and specialty shops.
Eat
Hundreds of restaurants are scattered throughout the La Crosse Metro area. You'll find anything within the city and suburbs like fast food such as McDonald's, Wendy's, Checkers, or Burger King for example. Also you can find a higher end setting like the Waterfront, the Freight House or Piggy's, which are all downtown. Gloria Jeans, Starbucks, and Caribou Coffee can also be found in La Crosse.
Eat The Pearl
An old-fashioned ice cream parlor where the ice cream is homemade and you can find elusive flavors such as bubble gum, superman, and even blue moon. They also offer a vast variety of old-fashioned candy. A great place for kids!
Drink
Many bars and nightclubs are found throughout Downtown La Crosse, and the city itself. At one time, La Crosse broke a Guinness Book record with the most bars/nightclubs on one street, which was Third Street in downtown.
Sleep
Stay safe
Downtown La Crosse is relatively safe at night for a college town. The downtown area has several bars which cater to college age customers. As with any area populated by bars, you may encounter intoxicated and/or obnoxious individuals. Generally, you can negotiate this area without any significant problems. If you are looking to avoid the younger crowd, it is recommended that you avoid the downtown area after 10PM.
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