Origin
River Hills, WI
Afternoon in River Hills on Saturday
Local time
3:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from River Hills, WI to North La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 17m
Distance
216.9 mi
349 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$34
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 6m
★
6 AM
3h 18m
8 AM
3h 42m
10 AM
3h 26m
12 PM
3h 24m
3 PM
3h 27m
5 PM
3h 40m
8 PM
3h 11m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
River Hills, WI
Tom Fisk
North La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from River Hills, WI to North La Crosse, WI covers 216.9 miles and takes about 3h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on North Spruce Road, West Brown Deer Road, I 94 East for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly surface roads. At current regular gas prices, budget about $33.91 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
108.4 miles from River Hills, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 38m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North Spruce Road | — | — |
| West Brown Deer Road | — | — |
| I 94 East | — | — |
| North-South Freeway | — | — |
| I 94 West | — | — |
| East-West Freeway | — | — |
| I 39 North | — | — |
| I 90 West | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
North Spruce Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between River Hills, WI and North La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on West Heather Lane
200 ft
·
9 sec
·
West Heather Lane
2
Turn right onto North Spruce Road
0.2 mi
·
38 sec
·
North Spruce Road
3
Turn right onto West Brown Deer Road
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
·
West Brown Deer Road
4
Take the ramp slight right toward I 94 East Alternate, I 43 South: Milwaukee
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 East Alternate, I 43 South: Milwaukee
5
Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway
9.2 mi
·
12 min
·
North-South Freeway
6
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West: Madison
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
I 94 West: Madison
7
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
16 mi
·
20 min
·
East-West Freeway
8
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
54 mi
·
57 min
·
East-West Freeway
9
Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
10
Keep slight left
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
42 mi
·
45 min
·
I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
12
Take the exit slight right toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
0.2 mi
·
37 sec
·
US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
13
Turn left onto Rose Street
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Rose Street
14
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 108.4 miles from River Hills, WI, or about 1h 38m into the drive.
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 48 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 108.4 miles or 1h 38m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 42m
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 River Hills, 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 River Hills, WI
This is one driving day of about 216.9 miles and 3h 17m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from River Hills, 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.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
108 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 48 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 108.4 miles from River Hills, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$33.91 one way
$67.82 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
76 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $37.23 | $74.46 |
| premium | $4.89 | $41.74 | $83.48 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $47.89 | $95.78 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 75.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.1 | 0 | $22.77 | $10.41 |
| Efficient EV | 54.2 | 0 | $18.98 | $8.68 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 86.8 | 1 | $30.37 | $13.88 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
25 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.
Destination
North La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in North La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
3:40 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Lodi, WI
108 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
21 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
3h 17m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
216.9 mi in 3h 17m across surface roads — expect steady turns and local traffic rather than long highway runs.
Only 0% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Main road: North Spruce Road.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Driving Effort
3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 17m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from River Hills, WI to North La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 17m. Total distance: 216.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 17m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (0%). Straightforward navigation.
Scenic Drive
Mostly surface roads route profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from River Hills, WI to North La Crosse, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Possible but tiring. At 3.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.6 hours — manageable with a long break at North La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner 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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