Origin
Monona, WI
Evening in Monona on Sunday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Monona, WI to North La Crosse, WI
Drive Time
2h 38m
Distance
142.5 mi
229 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$22
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 28m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 46m
12 PM
2h 44m
3 PM
2h 47m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Monona, WI
Tom Fisk
North La Crosse, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel from Monona to North La Crosse, expect a straightforward journey covering 142.5 miles across the Wisconsin landscape. Clocking in at approximately 2 hours and 38 minutes, this trip is perfectly manageable as a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about booking an overnight stay. You can anticipate spending roughly $22 on fuel for the trek, making it a budget-friendly option for a weekend getaway or a quick business trip. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, keeping navigation simple and stress-free. Whether you are heading west for a change of scenery or visiting family, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Midwest locations.
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
71.2 miles from Monona, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 20m into the drive .
Drive Character
This trip is a quintessential highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel time spent on major interstates. You will start by navigating South Stoughton Road before merging onto I-39 and I-90 for the bulk of your navigation. Be prepared for a sustained interstate experience, as your longest uninterrupted stretch spans 105.8 miles on I-90. While the road lacks the technical challenge of winding backroads, the heavy reliance on high-speed transit allows you to maintain a consistent pace. Expect a functional, efficient drive that prioritizes speed and directness over the slower, secondary routes found elsewhere in the state.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 12 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 1.3 miles in near US 51 / South Stoughton Road.
Route Complexity
7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 142.5 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 1.3 miles (US 51 / South Stoughton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 8 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
1.3 mi into trip
|
~3m in
|
US 51 / South Stoughton Road
Turn left onto US 51 / South Stoughton Road
Lane positioning matters here
Use the none lane.
8
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m 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 straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 3B
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
6
35.1 mi into trip
|
~41m 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
98.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 49m 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
140.6 mi into trip
|
~2h 34m 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 Along This Route
On the drive from Monona, WI to North La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward La Crosse along the way.
La Crosse
98.6 mi in
|
~1h 49m
|
via I 90
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 105.8 mi | 1h 53m |
| I 39 | 28.9 mi | 31m |
| South Stoughton Road | 3 mi | 4m |
| Rose Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| WI 30 | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| Pflaum Road | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| Nichols Road | 0.4 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 105.8 mi, about 1h 53m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Monona, WI and North La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on Nichols Road
0.4 mi
·
59 sec
·
Nichols Road
2
Continue on Pflaum Road
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
Pflaum Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3
Turn left onto US 51
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
South Stoughton Road
Use the none lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
29 sec
5
Merge onto WI 30
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 30
Use the none lane.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
Exit 3B
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Merge onto I 39; I 90
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 39; I 90
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
42 mi
·
45 min
·
I 90
Exit 45
Toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
10
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
11
Turn left onto US 53; WI 35
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Rose Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 53; CTH B
Trip Plan
To make the most of your 2 hour and 38 minute drive, consider departing during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the interstate segments. Since the trip is relatively short, a single planned stop is usually sufficient to stretch your legs and refresh, though the direct nature of the route gives you plenty of flexibility in your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto I-90, as that 105.8-mile stretch will be your primary focus for the majority of the journey. Because you are spending nearly the entire trip on high-speed roads, ensure your vehicle is prepared for consistent highway cruising speeds. Planning for just one stop will help you maintain your momentum while keeping the total transit time well within a comfortable range for a single day.
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 71.2 miles from Monona, WI, or about 1h 20m 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 80 miles or 1h 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 71.2 miles or 1h 20m 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 8m
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 Monona, 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 Monona, WI
This is one driving day of about 142.5 miles and 2h 38m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monona, 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 71.2 mi from Monona, WI · 1h 20m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
71 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 71.2 miles from Monona, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop 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
$21.64 one way
$43.29 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
50 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $23.86 | $47.72 |
| premium | $4.80 | $26.90 | $53.80 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $31.66 | $63.32 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 42.8 | 0 | $14.96 | $6.84 |
| Efficient EV | 35.6 | 0 | $12.47 | $5.70 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 57 | 0 | $19.95 | $9.12 |
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (66% 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.
Destination
North La Crosse, WI
Evening in North La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
6:48 PM
CDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 38m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Monona, WI to North La Crosse, WI covers 142.5 miles and takes about 2h 38m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 90, I 39, South Stoughton Road. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 71.2 miles from Monona, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $21.64 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 8 significant decision points across 142.5 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 1.3 miles (US 51 / South Stoughton Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 5.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 35.1 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Monona, WI to North La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward La Crosse along the way.
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