Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
55m
Distance
38 mi
61 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$6
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Franklin, WI
Tom Fisk
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Franklin, WI covers 38 miles and takes about 55m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 53, South Main Street, County Road C for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mixed drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 19.5 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $5.94 one way before food or hotel costs.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 55m. Total distance: 38 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
55m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (51%). Straightforward navigation.
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Franklin, WI covers 38 miles and takes about 55m, using a mix of highways and local roads.
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near US 53.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 55m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.2 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.6 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (US 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the exit onto US 53
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
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
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Take the exit
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Turn left onto Beck Road
Navigation decision point
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 Franklin, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Onalaska along the way.
Onalaska
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 19.5 mi | 24m |
| South Main Street | 11.1 mi | 16m |
| County Road C | 4.7 mi | 8m |
| County Highway C | 1.3 mi | 2m |
| Rose Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| Beck Road | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Franklin, WI.
Start on US 53; CTH B
Take the exit onto US 53
Take the exit onto US 53
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
Take the exit
Turn straight onto US 53
Turn right onto CTH C
Continue on CTH C
Continue on CTH C
Turn left onto Beck Road
Arrive at destination
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 19 mi from North La Crosse, WI · 25m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
19 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.
A short stop after about 38 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 19 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Allow a few extra minutes for the final approach into Franklin, WI if you are unfamiliar with the area.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$5.94 one way
$11.88 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $6.52 | $13.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $7.31 | $14.63 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $8.39 | $16.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$6
Estimated CO2 emission: 13.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 11.4 | 0 | $3.99 | $1.82 |
| Efficient EV | 9.5 | 0 | $3.32 | $1.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 15.2 | 0 | $5.32 | $2.43 |
Gas CO2
13 kg
EV CO2
4 kg (69% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in North La Crosse on Friday
Local time
10:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Sunny
Destination
Night in Franklin on Friday
Local time
10:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
67°F
Ettrick, WI
19 mi in
Time zone
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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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