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Trip from Pine Lake, WI to North La Crosse, WI

Drive Time

5h 31m

Distance

249.5 mi

402 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$38

one way

EV Charging

Excellent

24 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 18m ★
6 AM
5h 31m
8 AM
5h 58m
10 AM
5h 40m
12 PM
5h 38m
3 PM
5h 42m
5 PM
5h 56m
8 PM
5h 23m

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

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Downtown North La Crosse, WI, WI

North La Crosse, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Pine Lake, WI to North La Crosse, WI covers 249.5 miles and takes about 5h 31m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on US 51, I 90, State Highway 173 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 112.7 miles on US 51. At current regular gas prices, budget about $37.90 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

124.8 miles from Pine Lake, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 45m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 31m highway drive covering 249.5 miles, with most of the trip on US 51 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 112.7 miles on US 51.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 51 is the longest continuous segment at about 112.7 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 51 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near US 51.

Route Complexity 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 249.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 51): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.1 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 20 key points

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

7
0.4 mi into trip | ~1m in | US 51

Turn sharp left onto US 51

Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
6
113.1 mi into trip | ~2h 32m in | I 39; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51 toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point,...
6
125.6 mi into trip | ~2h 46m in

Take the exit toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids

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

Exit 175 Toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
6
139.9 mi into trip | ~3h 5m in | WI 34

Take the exit onto WI 34 toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids

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

Exit 204 Toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapid...
6
206 mi into trip | ~4h 42m in

Take the exit toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea

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

Exit 147 Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea

Towns Along This Route

Between Pine Lake, WI and North La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Wisconsin Rapids and Albert Lea.

Madison

113.1 mi in | ~2h 32m | via I 39; US 51

Wisconsin Rapids

125.6 mi in | ~2h 46m

Albert Lea

206 mi in | ~4h 42m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
US 51 112.7 mi 2h 30m
I 90 41.3 mi 44m
State Highway 173 34 mi 49m
Victory Road 15.2 mi 22m
I 39 12.5 mi 13m
State Highway 34 9.9 mi 13m
State Highway 21 4.1 mi 5m
US Highway 10 3.8 mi 4m
Longest stretch: US 51 — 112.7 mi, about 2h 30m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Finn Point Road

0.2 mi · 53 sec · Finn Point Road
2

Turn right onto South End Road

0.2 mi · 54 sec · South End Road
3

Turn sharp left onto US 51

113 mi · 2 hr 30 min · US 51
Use the straight lane.
4

Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51

13 mi · 13 min · I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
5

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 38 sec
Exit 175 Toward WI 34: Knowlton, Wisconsin Rapids
6

Keep slight right at fork

199 ft · 6 sec
7

Turn straight onto WI 34

0.2 mi · 16 sec · State Highway 34
8

Enter roundabout onto WI 34; CTH C

123 ft · 2 sec · State Highway 34
9

Continue on WI 34; CTH C

9.7 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34
10

Take the ramp onto WI 34

0.2 mi · 30 sec · WI 34
11

Merge onto US 10; WI 34

3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10
12

Take the exit onto WI 34

0.3 mi · 49 sec · WI 34
Exit 204 Toward WI 34 West, WI 13 South: Wisconsin Rapids
13

Turn left onto WI 13; WI 34

15 mi · 22 min · Victory Road
14

Turn right onto WI 54; WI 73

0.5 mi · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South
15

Enter roundabout onto WI 54; WI 73

185 ft · 3 sec · 2nd Avenue South
16

Continue on WI 54; WI 73

1.3 mi · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South
17

Continue on WI 54; WI 73

1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive
18

Turn right onto WI 54; WI 73

1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue
19

Continue on WI 54

2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54
20

Turn left onto CTH G

2.0 mi · 3 min · County Highway G
21

Continue on State Highway 173

9.1 mi · 13 min · State Highway 173
22

At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173

410 ft · 7 sec · State Highway 80
23

Continue on WI 80; WI 173

1.3 mi · 1 min · State Highway 173
24

Continue on WI 173

24 mi · 33 min · State Highway 173
25

Turn right onto WI 21

4.0 mi · 5 min · State Highway 21
26

Continue on WI 21

0.3 mi · 33 sec · East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
27

Continue on WI 21

0.1 mi · 12 sec · State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
28

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 41 sec
29

Merge onto I 94

2.8 mi · 2 min · I 94
30

Take the exit

0.7 mi · 51 sec
Exit 147 Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
31

Merge onto I 90

41 mi · 43 min · I 90
32

Take the exit onto I 90; US 53

0.2 mi · 37 sec · I 90; US 53
Exit 3 Toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
33

Turn left onto US 53; WI 35

1.6 mi · 3 min · Rose Street
34

Arrive at destination

US 53; CTH B

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 124.8 miles from Pine Lake, WI, or about 2h 45m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 112.7 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 80 miles or 1h 48m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 124.8 miles or 2h 45m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 40m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Pine Lake, 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 Pine Lake, WI

This is one driving day of about 249.5 miles and 5h 31m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pine Lake, 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 51 for about 112.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 124.8 mi from Pine Lake, WI · 2h 45m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Big Flats, WI

125 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

Merrill, WI

Fuel and coffee

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

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 124.8 miles from Pine Lake, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before US 51 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 112.7 miles.

Arriving in North La Crosse, WI

The final approach into North 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 North 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.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

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...

30 mi from route ~75 min detour Free near mile 163.5
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$37.90 one way

$75.79 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 87 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $41.78 $83.55
premium $4.80 $47.10 $94.20
diesel $5.64 $55.43 $110.86

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$38

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$63–$88

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 87.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

EV Charging Along Route

24 DC fast chargers · Coverage: excellent

Trig's - Tesla Supercharger

Minocqua, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

The Hilton Garden Inn - Tesla Supercharger

Wausau, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Taphouse Twenty - Tesla Supercharger

Tomah, WI

Tesla

8 DCFC

Target T0364 (Schofield, WI)

Schofield, WI

Electrify America

6 DCFC

Rapids Ford - DCFC

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

Blink Network

6 DCFC

Midwest Prairie Business Center - Tesla Supercharger

Onalaska, WI

Tesla

6 DCFC

Kocourek Ford

Wausau, WI

FORD_CHARGE

4 DCFC

Walmart 965 (Tomah, WI)

Tomah, WI

Electrify America

4 DCFC

ChargePoint Network: 5 Tesla: 4 Blink Network: 4 FORD_CHARGE: 2 EV Connect: 2 Electrify America: 2 FLO: 2 KWIK_CHARGE: 2 ZEFNET: 1

Station data from NREL Alternative Fuel Stations database.

Driving Electric?

About $26 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 74.9 0 $26.20 $11.98
Efficient EV 62.4 0 $21.83 $9.98
EV Truck/SUV 99.8 1 $34.93 $15.97

Gas CO2

87 kg

EV CO2

29 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 data refreshed 1 hour ago

Origin

Pine Lake, WI

Afternoon in Pine Lake on Monday

Local time

1:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

North La Crosse, WI

Afternoon in North La Crosse on Monday

Local time

1:21 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Sunny then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

S 8 mph 48% chance Live forecast

Along the Route

42°F

Big Flats, WI

125 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

29 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

5h 31m 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 Pine Lake, WI to North La Crosse, WI covers 249.5 miles and takes about 5h 31m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 51, I 90, State Highway 173. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 124.8 miles from Pine Lake, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $37.90 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 is a demanding drive. With 20 significant decision points across 249.5 miles, you will need to stay alert — especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (US 51): Sharp turn - reduce speed on approach. Lane positioning matters here; at 113.1 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 125.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Pine Lake, WI and North La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Wisconsin Rapids and Albert Lea.

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