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Trip from Burke, WI to North La Crosse, WI

Last recalculated Apr 17, 2026

Drive Time

2h 30m

Distance

136 mi

219 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$21

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 31 min
4 AM
2h 20m ★
6 AM
2h 31m
8 AM
2h 51m
10 AM
2h 38m
12 PM
2h 36m
3 PM
2h 39m
5 PM
2h 50m
8 PM
2h 24m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown Burke, WI, WI

Burke, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of La Crosse County, Wisconsin, United States

North La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Burke, WI to North La Crosse, WI covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 30m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, I 39, Rose Street for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 105.8 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.26 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

68 miles from Burke, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 15m into the drive .

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 30m. Total distance: 136 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 30m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Drive Character

This is a 2h 30m highway drive covering 136 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch is about 105.8 miles on I 90.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 90 is the longest continuous segment at about 105.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 136 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 39; I 90; I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 10 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

8
2 mi into trip | ~4m in

Take the exit toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 97B Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
5
2.7 mi into trip | ~5m in | I 39; I 90; I 94

Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
28.7 mi into trip | ~33m in | I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
7
92.1 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | I 90

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
6
134.2 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in | I 90; US 53

Take the exit onto I 90; US 53 toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 3 Toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

On the drive from Burke, WI to North La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward La Crosse along the way.

La Crosse

92.1 mi in | ~1h 41m | via I 90

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 90 105.8 mi 1h 53m
I 39 25.9 mi 27m
Rose Street 1.6 mi 3m
US 151 0.6 mi <1m
Felland Road 0.5 mi 1m
Nelson Road 0.3 mi <1m
Burke Road <0.1 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 90 — 105.8 mi, about 1h 53m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Burke, WI and North La Crosse, WI.

1

Start on Burke Road

44 ft · 7 sec · Burke Road
2

Turn left onto Felland Road

0.5 mi · 1 min · Felland Road
3

Turn left onto Nelson Road

0.3 mi · 36 sec · Nelson Road
4

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 24 sec
5

Keep slight left at fork

0.5 mi · 1 min
6

Merge onto US 151

0.6 mi · 48 sec · US 151
7

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 1 min
Exit 97B Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells Use the slight right lane.
8

Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94

26 mi · 27 min · I 39; I 90; I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
10

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90

42 mi · 45 min · I 90
Exit 45 Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
11

Take the exit onto I 90; US 53

0.2 mi · 37 sec · I 90; US 53
Exit 3 Toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
12

Turn left onto US 53; WI 35

1.6 mi · 3 min · Rose Street
13

Arrive at destination

US 53; CTH B

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68 miles from Burke, WI, or about 1h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 105.8 miles.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

Departure

Before you leave

Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.

First stop

Around 30 miles or 34m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 68 miles or 1h 15m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 2m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Burke, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

+

Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.

+

Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Burke, WI

This is one driving day of about 136 miles and 2h 30m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Burke, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 105.8 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 68 mi from Burke, WI · 1h 15m into the drive

village in Sauk County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Lake Delton, WI

68 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Lake Wisconsin, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 30 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lake Delton, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 68 miles from Burke, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 105.8 miles.

Arriving in North La Crosse, WI

The final approach into North La Crosse, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around North La Crosse, WI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$21.26 one way

$42.52 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 48 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $23.34 $46.69
premium $4.89 $26.17 $52.34
diesel $5.61 $30.03 $60.05

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$21

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$46–$71

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 47.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $14 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 40.8 0 $14.28 $6.53
Efficient EV 34 0 $11.90 $5.44
EV Truck/SUV 54.4 0 $19.04 $8.70

Gas CO2

48 kg

EV CO2

16 kg (67% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 16, 2026

Origin

Burke, WI

Night in Burke on Thursday

Local time

10:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

45°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North La Crosse, WI

Night in North La Crosse on Thursday

Local time

10:00 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Sunny

SW 2 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:12PM CDT until April 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:12PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI

Seasonal Notes

Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.

Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.

Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.

Time zone

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

26 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 30m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Burke, WI to North La Crosse, WI covers 136 miles and takes about 2h 30m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 39, Rose Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 68 miles from Burke, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.26 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 10 significant decision points across 136 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.7 miles (I 39; I 90; I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 28.7 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Burke, WI to North La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward La Crosse along the way.

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