Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Elkhorn, WI

Data updated 5 hours ago

Drive Time

3h 46m

Distance

201.5 mi

324 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$32

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 33m ★

6 AM

3h 46m

8 AM

4h 11m

10 AM

3h 55m

12 PM

3h 52m

3 PM

3h 56m

5 PM

4h 10m

8 PM

3h 39m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

Google Maps Waze Apple Maps

Download GPX

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

North La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Elkhorn, WI

Anete Lusina

Trip Overview

The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Elkhorn, WI covers 201.5 miles and takes about 3h 46m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 90, I 39, US 53 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 120.3 miles on I 90. At current regular gas prices, budget about $31.50 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

100.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 49m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 3h 46m highway drive covering 201.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 90 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch is about 120.3 miles on I 90.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 23 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 120.3 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 135.5 miles in near I 39; I 90.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 201.5 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 135.5 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 173 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 15 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

135.5 mi into trip | ~2h 26m in | I 39; I 90

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago

172.7 mi into trip | ~3h 6m in

Take the exit toward WI 11 East: Delavan

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan

173 mi into trip | ~3h 7m in | WI 11 / East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

199.7 mi into trip | ~3h 41m in

Take the exit toward WI 67: Elkhorn, Williams Bay

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 25 Toward WI 67: Elkhorn, Williams Bay

201.5 mi into trip | ~3h 46m in

At end of road, turn left

Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 90	120.3 mi	2h 8m
I 39	37.2 mi	39m
US 53	14 mi	15m
WI 11	11.2 mi	15m
I 43	10 mi	10m
US 14	3.5 mi	4m
East Racine Street	1.6 mi	2m
Rose Street	1.2 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 90 — 120.3 mi, about 2h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on US 53; CTH B

1.2 mi · 2 min · Rose Street

Take the exit onto US 53

14 mi · 15 min · US 53

Continue on I 90

120 mi · 2 hr 8 min · I 90

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90

37 mi · 39 min · I 39; I 90

Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 20 sec

Exit 175 Toward WI 11 East: Delavan

Keep slight left at fork

518 ft · 13 sec

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

297 ft · 16 sec · East Racine Street

Continue on WI 11

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Racine Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 11

112 ft · 6 sec · East Racine Street

Continue on WI 11

1.3 mi · 2 min · East Racine Street

Turn straight onto WI 11

11 mi · 15 min · WI 11

Continue on US 14

3.5 mi · 4 min · US 14

Turn left

0.4 mi · 47 sec

Merge onto I 43

10 mi · 10 min · I 43

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 35 sec

Exit 25 Toward WI 67: Elkhorn, Williams Bay Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

148 ft · 7 sec

Turn left onto WI 67

1.1 mi · 1 min · South Lincoln Street

Turn left onto WI 67; CTH H

0.1 mi · 12 sec · East Geneva Street

Turn right onto WI 67

0.2 mi · 38 sec · South Wisconsin Street

Turn left onto West Court Street

367 ft · 22 sec · West Court Street

Turn left

147 ft · 16 sec

At end of road, turn left

95 ft · 7 sec

Arrive at destination

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 100.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 49m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.3 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 80 miles or 1h 27m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 100.8 miles or 1h 49m 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 58m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Elkhorn, 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 201.5 miles and 3h 46m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 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 I 90 for about 120.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 100.8 mi from North La Crosse, WI · 1h 49m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

101 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 100.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 120.3 miles.

Arriving in Elkhorn, WI

The final approach into Elkhorn, 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 Elkhorn, 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.

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...

25 mi from route ~63 min detour Free near mile 76.4

Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River

Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$31.50 one way

$63.00 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 71 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$34.59	$69.18
premium	$4.89	$38.78	$77.55
diesel	$5.61	$44.49	$88.98

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$32

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$57–$82

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 70.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	60.4	0	$21.16	$9.67
Efficient EV	50.4	0	$17.63	$8.06
EV Truck/SUV	80.6	1	$28.21	$12.90

Gas CO2

71 kg

EV CO2

24 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.

Forecast data refreshed 5 hours ago

Origin

North La Crosse, WI

Night in North La Crosse on Tuesday

Local time

11:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

53°F

Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms

NW 6 mph 55% chance Live forecast

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 14 at 5:57PM CDT until April 14 at 6:00PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

Tornado Warning

Tornado Warning issued April 14 at 5:56PM CDT until April 14 at 6:45PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Elkhorn, WI

Night in Elkhorn on Tuesday

Local time

11:51 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

6 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 46m 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 Elkhorn, WI covers 201.5 miles and takes about 3h 46m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 90, I 39, US 53. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 100.8 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 $31.50 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.

The route from North La Crosse, WI to Elkhorn, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

Return Trip

Elkhorn, WI to North La Crosse, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

201.6 mi 3h 45m

More from North La Crosse, WI

Conover, WI 232.8 mi · 5h 9m Bristol, WI 230.2 mi · 4h 24m Saint Germain, WI 220.9 mi · 4h 50m Denmark, WI 214.9 mi · 4h 34m Butler, WI 202.1 mi · 3h 46m De Pere, WI 197.7 mi · 4h 13m

Explore more options from North La Crosse, WI or browse trips ending in Elkhorn, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.

Explore maps for North La Crosse, WI or Elkhorn, WI on MapSof.net.