Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Evening in North La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI
Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026
Drive Time
2h 37m
Distance
117.2 mi
189 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$18
one way
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 27m
★
6 AM
2h 38m
8 AM
2h 59m
10 AM
2h 45m
12 PM
2h 43m
3 PM
2h 46m
5 PM
2h 58m
8 PM
2h 31m
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
River Falls, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI covers 117.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 14, Hiawatha Pioneer Trail, Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $18.32 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
58.6 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 18m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 2h 37m drive with frequent turns across 117.2 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 31 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 14 is one of the defining roads on this drive.
How Hard Is This Drive?
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive.
Route Complexity
1/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI is easy. At 2h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 14 | — | — |
| Hiawatha Pioneer Trail | — | — |
| Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway | — | — |
| 2nd Street | — | — |
| Route 61 | — | — |
| South Lakeshore Drive | — | — |
| Route 63 | — | — |
| West Main Street | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
US 14
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and River Falls, WI.
1
Start on Rose Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Rose Street
2
Turn left
8.4 mi
·
9 min
3
Keep slight right to continue on US 14, US 61: Winona
1.5 mi
·
1 min
·
US 14, US 61: Winona
4
Continue straight
1.7 mi
·
1 min
5
Continue straight
13 mi
·
15 min
6
Continue straight
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
7
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward US 14;US 61
144 ft
·
2 sec
·
US 14;US 61
8
Exit the rotary onto US 14;US 61
2.6 mi
·
3 min
·
US 14;US 61
9
Continue straight
5.3 mi
·
7 min
10
Continue on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail
0.5 mi
·
38 sec
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail
11
Continue on Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
28 mi
·
33 min
·
Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway
12
Continue on 2nd Street
0.2 mi
·
18 sec
·
2nd Street
13
Continue on Route 61
9.5 mi
·
13 min
·
Route 61
14
Continue on South Lakeshore Drive
2.8 mi
·
5 min
·
South Lakeshore Drive
15
Continue on Route 61/Route 63
15 mi
·
19 min
·
Route 61/Route 63
16
Turn left onto Route 63
12 mi
·
17 min
·
Route 63
17
Continue on West Main Street
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
West Main Street
18
Turn left onto North Maple Street
1.7 mi
·
3 min
·
North Maple Street
19
Continue on State Highway 65
9.1 mi
·
12 min
·
State Highway 65
20
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 65
144 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 65
21
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 65
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
State Highway 65
22
Continue on State Highway 29/35/65
0.5 mi
·
48 sec
·
State Highway 29/35/65
23
Turn left onto East Cascade Avenue
0.2 mi
·
27 sec
·
East Cascade Avenue
24
Turn slight right onto East Cascade Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
East Cascade Avenue
25
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward South 6th Street
49 ft
·
3 sec
·
South 6th Street
26
Exit the roundabout onto South 6th Street
0.3 mi
·
1 min
·
South 6th Street
27
Turn left onto East Maple Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
East Maple Street
28
Turn right onto North 3rd Street
0.2 mi
·
33 sec
·
North 3rd Street
29
Turn left onto East Cedar Street
0.1 mi
·
28 sec
·
East Cedar Street
30
Turn left
69 ft
·
5 sec
31
Arrive at your destination
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 58.6 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 18m into the drive.
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 26 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 18m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Falls, 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 117.2 miles and 2h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 58.6 mi from North La Crosse, WI · 1h 18m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
59 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 26 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 58.6 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in River Falls, WI
The final approach into River Falls, 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 River Falls, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.32 one way
$36.65 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
41 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $20.12 | $40.24 |
| premium | $4.89 | $22.55 | $45.11 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $25.88 | $51.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 35.2 | 0 | $12.31 | $5.63 |
| Efficient EV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.25 | $4.69 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 46.9 | 0 | $16.41 | $7.50 |
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 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
River Falls, WI
Evening in River Falls on Wednesday
Local time
6:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
64°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 37m 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 River Falls, WI covers 117.2 miles and takes about 2h 37m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 14, Hiawatha Pioneer Trail, Hiawatha Pioneer Trail/Disabled American Veterans Highway/Voyageur Highway. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 58.6 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 $18.32 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.
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI is easy. At 2h 37m with 0% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from North La Crosse, WI to River Falls, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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