Origin
Parkland, WI
Evening in Parkland on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 44m
Distance
225.9 mi
364 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$35
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Parkland, WI
Wikimedia Commons
La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Parkland, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 225.9 miles and takes about 4h 44m 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, US 2 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 150.7 miles on US 53. At current regular gas prices, budget about $35.32 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
113 miles from Parkland, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 9m into the drive .
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 44m. Total distance: 225.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 44m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
This is a 4h 44m highway drive covering 225.9 miles, with most of the trip on US 53 and State Highway 93. The longest continuous stretch is about 150.7 miles on US 53.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and State Highway 93. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 225.9 miles you will encounter 9 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 0.7 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 5.5 miles (US 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.9 miles (US 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
Take the ramp
Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight right at fork onto US 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WI 93
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 53 | 150.7 mi | 2h 52m |
| State Highway 93 | 59.7 mi | 1h 23m |
| US 2 | 4.4 mi | 5m |
| WI 16 | 3.4 mi | 5m |
| Osseo Road | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| 16th Street South | 0.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road Z | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
Step-by-step road directions between Parkland, WI and La Crosse, WI.
Start on CTH Z
Take the ramp
Merge onto US 2; US 53
Keep slight right at fork onto US 53
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
Take the exit
Continue on this road
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93; WI 121
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93
Continue on WI 93; WI 54
Continue on US 53; WI 93
Turn straight onto WI 157
Turn slight right
Turn straight onto WI 16
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
Turn right onto CTH F
Turn left onto 16th Street South
Turn right onto Johnson Street
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
Arrive at destination
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.
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 50 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 113 miles or 2h 9m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Parkland, 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 Parkland, WI
This is one driving day of about 225.9 miles and 4h 44m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 113 mi from Parkland, WI · 2h 9m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 113 miles from Parkland, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before US 53 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 150.7 miles.
The final approach into La Crosse, 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 La Crosse, 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.
Regular Gas
$35.32 one way
$70.63 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $38.78 | $77.55 |
| premium | $4.89 | $43.47 | $86.94 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $49.88 | $99.75 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$35
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$60–$85
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 79 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.8 | 0 | $23.72 | $10.84 |
| Efficient EV | 56.5 | 0 | $19.77 | $9.04 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.4 | 1 | $31.63 | $14.46 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Evening in Parkland on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
36°F
Unavailable
Destination
Evening in La Crosse on Friday
Local time
5:14 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
42°F
Altoona, WI
113 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
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
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.
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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