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Trip from Parkland, WI to La Crosse, WI

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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
4h 31m ★
6 AM
4h 44m
8 AM
5h 11m
10 AM
4h 54m
12 PM
4h 51m
3 PM
4h 55m
5 PM
5h 10m
8 PM
4h 36m

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

town in Douglas County, Wisconsin, United States

Parkland, WI

Wikimedia Commons

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

La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

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 .

Who Is This Route For?

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.

Drive Character

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.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 27 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 150.7 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 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in.

Driving Effort 5/10

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.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 9 key points

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

5
0.7 mi into trip | ~1m in

Take the ramp

Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane.
6
5.5 mi into trip | ~6m in | US 53

Keep slight right at fork onto US 53

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
59.9 mi into trip | ~1h 9m in | US 53

Keep slight left at fork onto US 53

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / left lanes.
4
141.3 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in

Take the exit toward WI 93

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

Toward WI 93
5
225.9 mi into trip | ~4h 44m in | WI 35 / West Avenue South

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South

Navigation decision point

Main Roads

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
Longest stretch: US 53 — 150.7 mi, about 2h 52m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on CTH Z

0.7 mi · 1 min · County Road Z
2

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Use the right lane.
3

Merge onto US 2; US 53

4.4 mi · 5 min · US 2; US 53
4

Keep slight right at fork onto US 53

54 mi · 1 hr 2 min · US 53
Use the straight lane.
5

Keep slight left at fork onto US 53

81 mi · 1 hr 31 min · US 53
Use the straight / left lanes.
6

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 44 sec
Toward WI 93
7

Continue on this road

0.4 mi · 48 sec · this road
Toward WI 93
8

Continue on WI 93

15 mi · 21 min · State Highway 93
9

Continue on WI 93

0.3 mi · 43 sec · Lake Park Drive
10

Continue on WI 93

0.3 mi · 52 sec · Main Street North
11

Continue on WI 93

15 mi · 20 min · State Highway 93
12

Continue on WI 93; WI 121

1.5 mi · 2 min · Osseo Road
13

Continue on WI 93

0.2 mi · 41 sec · Washington Street
14

Continue on WI 93

0.3 mi · 59 sec · Burrows Road
15

Continue on WI 93

0.1 mi · 18 sec · Diagonal Street
16

Continue on WI 93

21 mi · 29 min · State Highway 93
17

Continue on WI 93; WI 54

8.2 mi · 11 min · State Highway 93
18

Continue on US 53; WI 93

15 mi · 18 min · US 53; WI 93
19

Turn straight onto WI 157

0.6 mi · 1 min · WI 157
20

Turn slight right

0.1 mi · 18 sec
21

Turn straight onto WI 16

3.4 mi · 5 min · WI 16
22

Continue on Losey Boulevard North

0.5 mi · 1 min · Losey Boulevard North
23

Turn right onto CTH F

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street
24

Turn left onto 16th Street South

0.8 mi · 2 min · 16th Street South
25

Turn right onto Johnson Street

0.3 mi · 1 min · Johnson Street
26

At end of road, turn right onto WI 35

326 ft · 11 sec · West Avenue South
27

Arrive at destination

WI 35

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 113 miles from Parkland, WI, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 150.7 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 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.

Before You Leave

+

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.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 50 miles from Parkland, 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 150.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 113 mi from Parkland, WI · 2h 9m into the drive

city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Altoona, WI

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.

Pacing Suggestions

Hayward, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Bloomer, WI

Meal break

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 check

Top up before US 53 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 150.7 miles.

Arriving in La Crosse, WI

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.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$35.32 one way

$70.63 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 79 kg CO2
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.

Travel Intel

Current conditions at both ends of the drive.

Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Parkland, WI

Evening in Parkland on Friday

Local time

5:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

36°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

La Crosse, WI

Evening in La Crosse on Friday

Local time

5:14 PM

CDT

Current temp

66°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

Same local time

Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.

Temperature spread

30 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 44m 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 Parkland, WI to La Crosse, WI covers 225.9 miles and takes about 4h 44m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are US 53, State Highway 93, US 2. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 113 miles from Parkland, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $35.32 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.

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.

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.

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

How this page is built

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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