Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Frederic, WI

Drive Time

Distance

179 mi

288 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$27

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 38 min

4 AM

3h 48m ★

6 AM

4h 0m

8 AM

4h 26m

10 AM

4h 10m

12 PM

4h 7m

3 PM

4h 11m

5 PM

4h 25m

8 PM

3h 53m

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

North La Crosse, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Frederic, WI covers 179 miles and takes about 4h 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, State Highway 93 / 121 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 80.4 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.19 one way before food or hotel costs.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

89.5 miles from North La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 3m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 4h highway drive covering 179 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and State Highway 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 80.4 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 35 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 80.4 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 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 2.6 miles in near US 53.

Route Complexity 6/10

Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 179 miles you will encounter 16 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 136.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

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

80.5 mi into trip | ~1h 53m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

136.7 mi into trip | ~2h 55m in

Take the exit toward WI 48: Rice Lake, Cumberland

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

Toward WI 48: Rice Lake, Cumberland

137.2 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in | WI 48 / West Knapp Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 48 / West Knapp Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

137.3 mi into trip | ~2h 56m in | WI 48 / West Knapp Street

Enter roundabout onto WI 48 / West Knapp Street

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from North La Crosse, WI to Frederic, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cumberland along the way.

Cumberland

136.7 mi in | ~2h 55m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
US 53	80.4 mi	1h 33m
State Highway 93	36.2 mi	50m
State Highway 93 / 121	15.3 mi	20m
300th Avenue	14.2 mi	20m
22 1/2 Avenue	7.8 mi	11m
State Highway 48	7.2 mi	10m
Knapp Avenue	5.7 mi	7m
10th Street	4.7 mi	8m

Longest stretch: US 53 — 80.4 mi, about 1h 33m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on Rose Street

1.2 mi · 2 min · Rose Street

Take the exit slight right

1.3 mi · 1 min

Take the exit slight right toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska

0.2 mi · 29 sec · US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska

Keep slight left

23 mi · 29 min

Continue on State Highway 93

21 mi · 29 min · State Highway 93

Continue on Diagonal Street

0.1 mi · 19 sec · Diagonal Street

Continue on Burrows Road

0.3 mi · 1 min · Burrows Road

Continue on Washington Street

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Washington Street

Continue on Osseo Road

1.5 mi · 2 min · Osseo Road

Continue on State Highway 93 / 121

15 mi · 20 min · State Highway 93 / 121

Continue on Main Street South

0.3 mi · 53 sec · Main Street South

Turn straight onto Lake Park Drive

0.3 mi · 44 sec · Lake Park Drive

Continue on State Highway 93

15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 93

Keep slight left

0.1 mi · 18 sec

Keep slight left

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Keep slight left

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge slight left

56 mi · 1 hr 1 min

Take the exit slight right toward WI 48: Rice Lake, Cumberland

0.4 mi · 46 sec · WI 48: Rice Lake, Cumberland

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward West Knapp Street

240 ft · 4 sec · West Knapp Street

Exit the roundabout onto West Knapp Street

502 ft · 10 sec · West Knapp Street

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Knapp Street

135 ft · 2 sec · West Knapp Street

Exit the roundabout onto West Knapp Street

423 ft · 8 sec · West Knapp Street

Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Knapp Street

128 ft · 2 sec · West Knapp Street

Exit the roundabout onto West Knapp Street

456 ft · 9 sec · West Knapp Street

Turn straight onto Knapp Avenue

5.7 mi · 7 min · Knapp Avenue

Continue on 22 1/2 Avenue

6.9 mi · 9 min · 22 1/2 Avenue

Continue on Elm Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · Elm Street

Continue on 22 1/2 Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · 22 1/2 Avenue

Take the exit slight right

0.1 mi · 27 sec

Continue on State Highway 48

7.2 mi · 10 min · State Highway 48

Turn right onto 10th Street

4.7 mi · 8 min · 10th Street

Turn left onto 300th Avenue

14 mi · 20 min · 300th Avenue

At the end of the road, turn right onto South Wisconsin Avenue

1.3 mi · 2 min · South Wisconsin Avenue

Turn left onto Oak Street West

249 ft · 8 sec · Oak Street West

Arrive at your 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 89.5 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.4 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 52m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 89.5 miles or 2h 3m 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 9m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Frederic, 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 179 miles and 4h.

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 US 53 for about 80.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 89.5 mi from North La Crosse, WI · 2h 3m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sparta, WI

90 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

Sparta, WI

Fuel and coffee

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

Sparta, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 89.5 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 US 53 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 80.4 miles.

Arriving in Frederic, WI

The final approach into Frederic, 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 Frederic, 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

$27.19 one way

$54.38 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 63 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$29.97	$59.94
premium	$4.80	$33.79	$67.58
diesel	$5.64	$39.77	$79.54

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$27

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$52–$77

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 62.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $19 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	53.7	$18.79	$8.59
Efficient EV	44.8	$15.66	$7.16
EV Truck/SUV	71.6	$25.06	$11.46

Gas CO2

63 kg

EV CO2

21 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 data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

North La Crosse, WI

Morning in North La Crosse on Monday

Local time

6:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

39°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Frederic, WI

Morning in Frederic on Monday

Local time

6:11 AM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

43°F

Sparta, WI

90 mi in

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

3 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

4h on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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 Frederic, WI covers 179 miles and takes about 4h without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 53, State Highway 93, State Highway 93 / 121. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 89.5 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 $27.19 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. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

On the drive from North La Crosse, WI to Frederic, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cumberland along the way.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More from North La Crosse, WI

Algoma, WI 238.3 mi · 5h 7m Conover, WI 232.8 mi · 5h 9m Oconto Falls, WI 230.2 mi · 4h 51m Bristol, WI 230.2 mi · 4h 24m Cloverland, WI 227.9 mi · 4h 49m Yorkville, WI 224 mi · 4h 16m

More trips to Frederic, WI

Kenosha, WI 375.6 mi Menomonee Falls, WI 337 mi Wauwatosa, WI 336.7 mi

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

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.

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