The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Schofield, WI covers 138.9 miles and takes about 3h 3m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on State Highway 173, I 90, WI 13 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 34 miles on State Highway 173.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $21.72 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
69.5 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 24m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 3m. Total distance: 138.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 3m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 3m highway drive covering 138.9 miles, with most of the trip on State Highway 173 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 34 miles on State Highway 173.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 38 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
State Highway 173 is the longest continuous segment at about 34 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 173 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 43.1 miles in.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 138.9 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 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.6 miles (WI 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 24 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
43.1 mi into trip|~47m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 45
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
6
46.8 mi into trip|~51m in
Take the exit toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143
Toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
6
113.6 mi into trip|~2h 29m in|WI 34
Take the exit onto WI 34 toward WI 34, CTH P, CTH HH: Knowlton, Stevens Point
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
29 mi from route
~72 min detour
Free
near mile 91
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.72 one way
$43.43 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.84
$47.69
premium
$4.89
$26.73
$53.46
diesel
$5.61
$30.67
$61.33
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: 48.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.7
0
$14.58
$6.67
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.15
$5.56
EV Truck/SUV
55.6
0
$19.45
$8.89
Gas CO2
49 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 14, 2026
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Morning
in North La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Schofield, WI
Morning
in Schofield on Saturday
Local time
8:37 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Patchy Fog
ESE 8 mph89% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:31PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 11:27PM 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
13 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
3h 3m 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 North La Crosse, WI to Schofield, WI covers 138.9 miles and takes about 3h 3m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 173, I 90, WI 13. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 69.5 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 $21.72 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 is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 138.9 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 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.6 miles (WI 34): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between North La Crosse, WI and Schofield, WI, road signs point toward Saint Paul, Necedah, Cth P, Cth Hh: Knowlton and Stevens Point.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
