Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in North La Crosse on Friday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Hayward, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 59m
Distance
186.7 mi
300 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$29
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 46m
★
6 AM
3h 59m
8 AM
4h 25m
10 AM
4h 8m
12 PM
4h 6m
3 PM
4h 10m
5 PM
4h 24m
8 PM
3h 51m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Hayward, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Hayward, WI covers 186.7 miles and takes about 3h 59m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 53, State Highway 93, US 63 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 109.3 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.19 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
93.3 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 59m. Total distance: 186.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 59m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 59m highway drive covering 186.7 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and State Highway 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 109.3 miles on US 53.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 53 is the longest continuous segment at about 109.3 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and State Highway 93. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near US 53.
Driving Effort
6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 186.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 81.1 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 10 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
5
2.6 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
US 53
Take the exit onto US 53 toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska
5
80.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
5
81.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 54m in
|
US 53
Merge onto US 53
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
165.7 mi into trip
|
~3h 28m in
|
US 63
Take the exit onto US 63 toward US 63 North, CTH E: Hayward
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 172
Toward US 63 North, CTH E: Hayward
5
165.9 mi into trip
|
~3h 29m in
|
US 63
Enter roundabout onto US 63
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
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 North La Crosse, WI to Hayward, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cth E: Hayward along the way.
Cth E: Hayward
165.7 mi in
|
~3h 28m
|
via US 63
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 109.3 mi | 2h 6m |
| State Highway 93 | 36.2 mi | 50m |
| US 63 | 21 mi | 30m |
| State Highway 93 / 121 | 15.3 mi | 20m |
| Osseo Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| Rose Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Main Street South | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Burrows Road | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 109.3 mi, about 2h 6m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Hayward, WI.
1
Start on US 53; CTH B
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Rose Street
2
Take the exit onto US 53
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
US 53
3
Take the exit onto US 53
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
US 53
Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska
4
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
23 mi
·
29 min
·
US 53
5
Continue on WI 93
21 mi
·
29 min
·
State Highway 93
6
Continue on WI 93
0.1 mi
·
18 sec
·
Diagonal Street
7
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi
·
59 sec
·
Burrows Road
8
Continue on WI 93; CTH Q
0.2 mi
·
41 sec
·
Washington Street
9
Continue on WI 93
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
Osseo Road
10
Continue on WI 93; WI 121
15 mi
·
20 min
·
State Highway 93 / 121
11
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi
·
52 sec
·
Main Street South
12
Turn straight onto WI 93
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
·
Lake Park Drive
13
Continue on WI 93
15 mi
·
21 min
·
State Highway 93
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
43 sec
17
Merge onto US 53
85 mi
·
1 hr 34 min
·
US 53
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto US 63
0.3 mi
·
56 sec
·
US 63
Exit 172
Toward US 63 North, CTH E: Hayward
19
Enter roundabout onto US 63
29 ft
·
1 sec
·
US 63
20
Continue on US 63
21 mi
·
29 min
·
US 63
Use the straight lane.
21
Arrive at destination
US 63
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 93.3 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 8m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 109.3 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 41 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 93.3 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 14m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hayward, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North La Crosse, 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 La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 186.7 miles and 3h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 41 miles from North La Crosse, 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 US 53 for about 109.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 93.3 mi from North La Crosse, WI · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
93 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 41 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 93.3 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 53 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 109.3 miles.
Arriving in Hayward, WI
The final approach into Hayward, 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 Hayward, 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
$29.19 one way
$58.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
65 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $32.05 | $64.10 |
| premium | $4.89 | $35.93 | $71.86 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $41.22 | $82.44 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 65.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $20 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 56 | 0 | $19.60 | $8.96 |
| Efficient EV | 46.7 | 0 | $16.34 | $7.47 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 74.7 | 0 | $26.14 | $11.95 |
Gas CO2
65 kg
EV CO2
22 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
Hayward, WI
Afternoon in Hayward on Friday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°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 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 59m 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 North La Crosse, WI to Hayward, WI covers 186.7 miles and takes about 3h 59m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 53, State Highway 93, US 63. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 93.3 miles from North La Crosse, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $29.19 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 186.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 2.6 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 80.5 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 81.1 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from North La Crosse, WI to Hayward, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cth E: Hayward along the way.
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.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From Hayward, WI
More trips to Hayward, WI
Explore more options from North La Crosse, WI or browse trips ending in Hayward, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.