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Trip from North Hudson, WI to La Crosse, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

3h

Distance

132.1 mi

213 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 34 min
4 AM
2h 49m ★
6 AM
3h 0m
8 AM
3h 23m
10 AM
3h 8m
12 PM
3h 6m
3 PM
3h 10m
5 PM
3h 22m
8 PM
2h 54m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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Downtown North Hudson, WI, WI

North Hudson, WI

Tom Fisk

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from North Hudson, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 132.1 miles and takes about 3h behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on Route 61, US 14, Route 61/Route 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 46.1 miles on Route 61. At current regular gas prices, budget about $20.65 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

66.1 miles from North Hudson, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 35m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Route 61 46.1 mi 58m
US 14 25.1 mi 30m
Route 61/Route 63 14.8 mi 19m
US 63 12.1 mi 18m
WI 35 9.8 mi 12m
State Highway 65 9.3 mi 12m
North Lakeshore Drive 2.8 mi 5m
I 94 2.5 mi 2m
Longest stretch: Route 61 — 46.1 mi, about 58m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on St Croix St North

55 ft · 7 sec · St Croix St North
2

Turn left onto WI 35

0.3 mi · 54 sec · Sixth Street North
3

Continue on WI 35

1.7 mi · 4 min · Second Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4

Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35

0.5 mi · 1 min · WI 35
Toward Eau Claire, River Falls Use the slight left lane.
5

Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35

2.5 mi · 2 min · I 94; US 12; WI 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 51 sec
Exit 3 Toward WI 35 South: River Falls Use the slight right lane.
7

Continue on WI 35

9.3 mi · 11 min · WI 35
Use the straight lane.
8

Continue on WI 29; WI 35; WI 65

0.5 mi · 46 sec · State Highway 29/35/65
Use the left / straight lanes.
9

Continue on WI 29; WI 35; WI 65

0.1 mi · 9 sec · State Highway 65
10

Enter roundabout onto WI 65

134 ft · 7 sec · State Highway 65
11

Continue on WI 65

9.1 mi · 12 min · State Highway 65
12

Continue on WI 65

1.7 mi · 3 min · North Maple Street
13

Turn right onto US 10; US 63

1.6 mi · 2 min · West Main Street
14

Turn left onto US 63

12 mi · 18 min · US 63
Use the straight lane.
15

Turn right onto US 61; US 63

15 mi · 19 min · Route 61/Route 63
Use the right lane.
16

Continue on US 61; US 63

2.8 mi · 5 min · North Lakeshore Drive
17

Continue on US 61

9.5 mi · 13 min · Route 61
18

Continue on US 61

0.2 mi · 17 sec · 2nd Street
19

Continue on US 61

37 mi · 45 min · Route 61
Use the straight lane.
20

Enter roundabout onto US 14; US 61

162 ft · 2 sec · US 14;US 61
21

Continue on US 14; US 61

0.2 mi · 11 sec · US 14;US 61
22

Continue on US 14; US 61

12 mi · 14 min · US 14; US 61
Use the straight lane.
23

Continue on US 14; US 61

8.5 mi · 9 min · US 14; US 61
24

Keep slight right at fork onto US 14; US 61

2.9 mi · 4 min · US 14; US 61
25

Turn left onto US 14; US 61; MN 16

1.7 mi · 2 min · Historic Bluff Country Scenic Byway
26

Continue on US 14; US 61; WI 16

1.3 mi · 2 min · US 14; US 61; WI 16
27

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 20 sec
28

Merge onto US 14; US 61

0.4 mi · 1 min · 3rd Street South
29

Continue on US 14; US 61

0.2 mi · 24 sec · South Avenue
30

Turn left onto Adams Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · Adams Street
31

Turn left onto WI 35

0.1 mi · 23 sec · West Avenue South
32

Arrive at destination

WI 35

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 66.1 miles from North Hudson, WI, or about 1h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 46.1 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 29 miles or 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 66.1 miles or 1h 35m 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 28m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North Hudson, 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 North Hudson, WI

This is one driving day of about 132.1 miles and 3h.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 29 miles from North Hudson, 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 Route 61 for about 46.1 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Minnesota, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Wabasha, MN

66 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

Ellsworth, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 29 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Wabasha, MN

Meal break

The midpoint is around 66.1 miles from North Hudson, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Restaurant

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Hudson, Wisconsin

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+17153812999

Visit website

Sapporo Japanese Restaurant

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, short detour

3 mi from route ~7 min detour $20 to $30

Hudson, Wisconsin

Hours: 11 am–3 pm

+17153812999

Visit website

Junior's Restaurant & Tap House

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Near the start, ~10 min detour

4.1 mi from route ~10 min detour $20 to $30 mile 9.4

River Falls, Wisconsin

Hours: 2 pm–12 am

+17154256630

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 13

5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 15.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0 mi into trip | ~0m in | WI 35 / Sixth Street North

Turn left onto WI 35 / Sixth Street North

Navigation decision point

8
2 mi into trip | ~5m in | WI 35

Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35 toward Eau Claire, River Falls

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward Eau Claire, River Falls
5
2.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | I 94; US 12; WI 35

Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
5 mi into trip | ~9m in

Take the exit toward WI 35 South: River Falls

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight right lane. Exit 3 Toward WI 35 South: River Falls
5
15.3 mi into trip | ~22m in | WI 65 / State Highway 65

Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$20.65 one way

$41.30 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 46 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $22.68 $45.35
premium $4.89 $25.42 $50.84
diesel $5.61 $29.17 $58.33

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: 46.2 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 39.6 0 $13.87 $6.34
Efficient EV 33 0 $11.56 $5.28
EV Truck/SUV 52.8 0 $18.49 $8.45

Gas CO2

46 kg

EV CO2

15 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 17, 2026

Origin

North Hudson, WI

Afternoon in North Hudson on Saturday

Local time

3:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in La Crosse on Saturday

Local time

3:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

77°F

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms

S 8 to 16 mph 90% chance Live forecast

Flash Flood Watch

Flash Flood Watch issued April 17 at 7:06AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 17 at 7:06AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan 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

31 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

3h 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.

What kind of drive is this?

132.1 mi in 3h, mostly highway — 46.1 mi of that is on Route 61.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 46.1 mi on Route 61.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on Route 61 and US 14. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 35 / Sixth Street North.

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 13 significant decision points across 132.1 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: near the start (WI 35 / Sixth Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (I 94; US 12; WI 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

About the Cities

Arriving in La Crosse, WI

Full guide →

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.

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 3h. Total distance: 132.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

3h drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 46.1 miles on Route 61. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at La Crosse, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 35 / Sixth Street North): Navigation decision point; at 2 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.5 miles (I 94; US 12; WI 35): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.

Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.0 hours — manageable with a long break at La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.

How this page is built

Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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