The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Stevens Point, WI covers 112.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m 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, US 53 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 $17.63 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
56.4 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 31m. Total distance: 112.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
This is a 2h 31m highway drive covering 112.8 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 28 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. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 43.1 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 31m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 51.3 miles (WI 173 / State Highway 173): Navigation decision point.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 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
4
51.3 mi into trip|~58m in|WI 173 / State Highway 173
Turn left onto WI 173 / State Highway 173
Navigation decision point
5
90.8 mi into trip|~1h 56m in|WI 54; WI 73 / Wisconsin River Drive
At end of road, turn left onto WI 54; WI 73 / Wisconsin River Drive
Navigation decision point
5
112.7 mi into trip|~2h 31m in|WI 66 / Main Street
Turn left onto WI 66 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between North La Crosse, WI and Stevens Point, WI, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Necedah.
Saint Paul
43.1 mi in|~47m
Necedah
46.8 mi in|~51m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 173
34 mi
49m
I 90
27.9 mi
29m
US 53
14 mi
15m
State Highway 66
12.7 mi
17m
State Highway 21
4 mi
5m
WI 13
3 mi
4m
I 94
2.9 mi
3m
State Highway 54
2.1 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 173
— 34 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Stevens Point, WI.
1
Start on US 53; CTH B
1.2 mi·2 min·Rose Street
2
Take the exit onto US 53
14 mi·15 min·US 53
3
Continue on I 90
28 mi·29 min·I 90
4
Take the exit
0.8 mi·55 sec
Exit 45Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
5
Merge onto I 94
2.9 mi·3 min·I 94
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·34 sec
Exit 143Toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
7
Turn right onto WI 21
0.3 mi·33 sec·East McCoy Boulevard
8
Continue on WI 21
4.0 mi·5 min·State Highway 21
9
Turn left onto WI 173
24 mi·33 min·State Highway 173
10
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 173
11
Continue on WI 80; WI 173
410 ft·8 sec·State Highway 80
12
Turn right onto WI 173
9.1 mi·13 min·State Highway 173
13
Continue on CTH G
2.0 mi·3 min·County Highway G
14
At end of road, turn right onto WI 54
2.1 mi·3 min·State Highway 54
15
Continue on WI 54
1.4 mi·2 min·Letendre Avenue
16
At end of road, turn left onto WI 54; WI 73
1.6 mi·2 min·Wisconsin River Drive
17
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
1.3 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue South
18
Enter roundabout onto WI 54; WI 73
64 ft·1 sec·2nd Avenue South
19
Continue on WI 54; WI 73
0.5 mi·1 min·2nd Avenue South
20
Turn left onto WI 13; WI 73
0.8 mi·1 min·West Riverview Expressway
21
Continue on WI 13; WI 34
3.0 mi·4 min·WI 13; WI 34
22
Turn right onto WI 66
13 mi·17 min·State Highway 66
23
Continue on WI 66
0.6 mi·1 min·West Clark Street
24
Continue on WI 66
0.6 mi·58 sec·West Clark Street
25
Continue on WI 66
0.7 mi·2 min·Clark Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
26
Turn left onto Philips Street
404 ft·19 sec·Philips Street
27
Turn left onto WI 66
0.1 mi·20 sec·Main Street
28
Arrive at destination
WI 66
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 56.4 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 25 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 56.4 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stevens Point, 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 112.8 miles and 2h 31m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 25 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 State Highway 173 for about 34 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 56.4 mi from North La Crosse, WI
· 1h 5m into the drive
The midpoint is around 56.4 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Stevens Point, WI
The final approach into Stevens Point, 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 Stevens Point, WI.
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...
29 mi from route
~73 min detour
Free
near mile 85.6
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
$17.63 one way
$35.27 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg40 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$19.36
$38.73
premium
$4.89
$21.71
$43.41
diesel
$5.61
$24.90
$49.81
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: 39.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
33.8
0
$11.84
$5.41
Efficient EV
28.2
0
$9.87
$4.51
EV Truck/SUV
45.1
0
$15.79
$7.22
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 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 17, 2026
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Morning
in North La Crosse on Friday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
55°F
Mostly Clear
SE 6 to 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Stevens Point, WI
Morning
in Stevens Point on Friday
Local time
8:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°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
12 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 31m 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 Stevens Point, WI covers 112.8 miles and takes about 2h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are State Highway 173, I 90, 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 56.4 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 $17.63 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.
This is a straightforward 2h 31m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 51.3 miles (WI 173 / State Highway 173): Navigation decision point.
Between North La Crosse, WI and Stevens Point, WI, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Necedah.
Yes. Nearby national parks include Ice Age National Scenic Trail.
How this page is built
Compiled and maintained by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy (Helsinki). Each route is built from authoritative open government and mapping datasets rather than crowdsourced reviews. Distances and geometry come from
OSRM
over
OpenStreetMap.
Fuel cost uses
EIA
weekly regional averages.
National park proximity is from the
NPS API.
Pages are published only after passing our data-quality checks; our
methodology page
documents refresh cadence, editorial standards, and known limitations.
