Origin
Friendship, WI
Late night in Friendship on Sunday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Friendship, WI to North La Crosse, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 50m
Distance
86.1 mi
139 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 42m
★
6 AM
1h 50m
8 AM
2h 6m
10 AM
1h 56m
12 PM
1h 54m
3 PM
1h 57m
5 PM
2h 6m
8 PM
1h 45m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Friendship, WI
Gustavo Fring
North La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 86.1-mile drive from Friendship, Wisconsin, to North La Crosse, Wisconsin, is easily manageable in about 1 hour and 50 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. Primarily utilizing I-90 with a segment on State Highway 21, the route keeps you on well-maintained highways for about 77% of the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $13, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a single day of exploration. Given its relatively short distance and highway focus, this route is best suited for a single-day adventure without the need for an overnight stop. You'll experience a consistent Midwest driving feel throughout your travels.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
43 miles from Friendship, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 1m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 41.3 mi | 44m |
| State Highway 21 | 22.4 mi | 31m |
| East 3rd Street | 10.9 mi | 15m |
| County Road N | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| I 94 | 2.8 mi | 2m |
| Rose Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| County Road J | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West Lake Street | 0.8 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 41.3 mi, about 44m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Friendship, WI and North La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on West 4th Street
152 ft
·
10 sec
·
West 4th Street
2
Turn left onto WI 13
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
·
Main Street
3
Turn left onto CTH J
0.8 mi
·
2 min
·
West Lake Street
4
Continue on CTH J
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
County Road J
5
Turn right onto CTH N
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road N
6
Turn left onto WI 21
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 21
7
Continue on WI 21
11 mi
·
15 min
·
East 3rd Street
8
Continue on WI 21; CTH H
11 mi
·
15 min
·
State Highway 21
9
Continue on WI 21
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East McCoy Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on WI 21
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
State Highway 21
Use the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
12
Merge onto I 94
2.8 mi
·
2 min
·
I 94
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
51 sec
Exit 147
Toward I 90 West: La Crosse, Albert Lea
14
Merge onto I 90
41 mi
·
43 min
·
I 90
15
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
16
Turn left onto US 53; WI 35
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
Rose Street
17
Arrive at destination
US 53; CTH B
Trip Plan
As this is a concise 1 hour and 50-minute drive covering 86.1 miles, you have the flexibility to depart at your convenience. Given the relatively short duration and minimal fuel cost of $13, extensive planning isn't necessary. The longest stretch without a break is 41.3 miles on I-90, so plan a quick stop before or after this segment if needed. Keep an eye out for the transition onto State Highway 21, as this will mark a change in the road character as you approach North La Crosse.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 43 miles from Friendship, WI, or about 1h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 41.3 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 19 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 43 miles or 1h 1m 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 34m
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 Friendship, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Friendship, WI
This is one driving day of about 86.1 miles and 1h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 19 miles from Friendship, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 90 for about 41.3 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
43 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 19 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 43 miles from Friendship, 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 95 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 84.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
WI 13 / Main Street
Turn left onto WI 13 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
4
2.3 mi into trip
|
~4m in
|
CTH N / County Road N
Turn right onto CTH N / County Road N
Navigation decision point
4
5.8 mi into trip
|
~9m in
|
WI 21 / State Highway 21
Turn left onto WI 21 / State Highway 21
Navigation decision point
6
42.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 1m 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
6
84.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 46m in
|
I 90; US 53
Take the exit onto I 90; US 53 toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 3
Toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$13.46 one way
$26.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
30 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.78 | $29.56 |
| premium | $4.89 | $16.57 | $33.14 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $19.01 | $38.02 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 30.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 25.8 | 0 | $9.04 | $4.13 |
| Efficient EV | 21.5 | 0 | $7.53 | $3.44 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 34.4 | 0 | $12.05 | $5.51 |
Gas CO2
30 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
North La Crosse, WI
Late night in North La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
5:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°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
13 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
1h 50m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 86.1-mile trip, with 77% of the route on interstates and state highways. You'll encounter a substantial 41.3-mile stretch on I-90, offering a consistent pace. The character of the drive is largely defined by these main roads, providing a predictable and efficient journey. While not designed for leisurely sightseeing, the focus is on covering ground smoothly between Friendship and North La Crosse. The transition from I-90 to State Highway 21 and finally East 3rd Street marks the progression towards your destination.
77% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 41.3 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 21. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 13 / Main Street.
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 86.1 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: near the start (WI 13 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (CTH N / County Road N): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (WI 21 / State Highway 21): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Friendship, WI to North La Crosse, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Albert Lea along the way.
Albert Lea
42.5 mi in
|
~1h 1m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 50m. Total distance: 86.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (77%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 41.3 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 13 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 2.3 miles (CTH N / County Road N): Navigation decision point; at 5.8 miles (WI 21 / State Highway 21): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at North La Crosse, WI before heading back.
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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