Lake Nebagamon to La Crosse is 220.4 miles and takes about 4h 41m via US 53 and State Highway 93, with a fuel budget near $30 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving you from the Midwest's northern woods toward its more central agricultural areas. Given its manageable length and mostly highway profile, it's a straightforward trip for a single day. You'll find the bulk of your travel on a major highway before transitioning to state and county roads for the final leg. Consider this a practical way to cover ground efficiently.
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
110.2 miles from Lake Nebagamon, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
US 53
143.4 mi
2h 43m
State Highway 93
59.7 mi
1h 23m
County Road B/P
6.1 mi
10m
WI 16
3.4 mi
5m
Osseo Road
1.5 mi
2m
Coolidge Memorial Highway
1.1 mi
2m
16th Street South
0.8 mi
2m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
US 53
— 143.4 mi, about 2h 43m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Lake Nebagamon, WI and La Crosse, WI.
1
Start on CTH B
1.1 mi·2 min·Coolidge Memorial Highway
2
Turn left onto CTH B; CTH P
6.1 mi·10 min·County Road B/P
3
Take the ramp
213 ft·6 sec
4
Merge onto US 53
0.3 mi·22 sec·US 53
5
Take the exit
183 ft·5 sec
6
Merge onto US 53
47 mi·54 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto US 53
81 mi·1 hr 31 min·US 53
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi·44 sec
Toward WI 93
9
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·48 sec·this road
Toward WI 93
10
Continue on WI 93
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 93
11
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi·43 sec·Lake Park Drive
12
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi·52 sec·Main Street North
13
Continue on WI 93
15 mi·20 min·State Highway 93
14
Continue on WI 93; WI 121
1.5 mi·2 min·Osseo Road
15
Continue on WI 93
0.2 mi·41 sec·Washington Street
16
Continue on WI 93
0.3 mi·59 sec·Burrows Road
17
Continue on WI 93
0.1 mi·18 sec·Diagonal Street
18
Continue on WI 93
21 mi·29 min·State Highway 93
19
Continue on WI 93; WI 54
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 93
20
Continue on US 53; WI 93
15 mi·18 min·US 53; WI 93
21
Turn straight onto WI 157
0.6 mi·1 min·WI 157
22
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·18 sec
23
Turn straight onto WI 16
3.4 mi·5 min·WI 16
24
Continue on Losey Boulevard North
0.5 mi·1 min·Losey Boulevard North
25
Turn right onto CTH F
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
26
Turn left onto 16th Street South
0.8 mi·2 min·16th Street South
27
Turn right onto Johnson Street
0.3 mi·1 min·Johnson Street
28
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35
326 ft·11 sec·West Avenue South
29
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
For this 4h 41m drive, departing in the morning will give you ample time to reach La Crosse before evening. With only one recommended stop and a 143.4-mile stretch on US 53, plan for a fuel and rest break around the halfway point or slightly after the longest highway segment. The estimated fuel cost of $30 is based on the total distance, so ensure your tank is full before you leave Lake Nebagamon. The final section on county roads means you might encounter slower speeds and fewer services, so keep an eye on your fuel level as you approach your 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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 110.2 miles from Lake Nebagamon, WI, or about 2h 9m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 143.4 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 48 miles or 59m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 110.2 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 Lake Nebagamon, 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 Lake Nebagamon, WI
This is one driving day of about 220.4 miles and 4h 41m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Lake Nebagamon, 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 143.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 1.1 and 220.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
1.1 mi into trip|~2m in|CTH B; CTH P / County Road B/P
Turn left onto CTH B; CTH P / County Road B/P
Navigation decision point
4
7.2 mi into trip|~12m in|US 53
Merge onto US 53
Merge point - match speed before joining
5
7.6 mi into trip|~13m in|US 53
Merge onto US 53
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
54.4 mi into trip|~1h 7m 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.
5
220.4 mi into trip|~4h 41m in|WI 35 / West Avenue South
At end of road, turn right onto WI 35 / West Avenue South
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.46 one way
$68.91 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg77 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.83
$75.66
premium
$4.89
$42.41
$84.83
diesel
$5.61
$48.66
$97.32
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: 77.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
66.1
0
$23.14
$10.58
Efficient EV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
EV Truck/SUV
88.2
1
$30.86
$14.11
Gas CO2
77 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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
Lake Nebagamon, WI
Late night
in Lake Nebagamon on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
La Crosse, WI
Late night
in La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
5:23 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°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
31 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 41m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 94% of the 220.4 miles on major roads like US 53. You'll encounter your longest continuous stretch on US 53, covering 143.4 miles. The transition to more rural driving begins as you shift to State Highway 93 and County Road B/P. Expect to see more exits and services for the first portion of the drive, with a more open cruising feel once you move to the state and county roads.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 143.4 mi on US 53.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 53 and State Highway 93. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.1 miles in near CTH B; CTH P / County Road B/P.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 41m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (CTH B; CTH P / County Road B/P): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 7.6 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
La Crosse is a city in the Coulee Region of Southwest Wisconsin on the Mississippi River. It is the county seat of La Crosse County. It's nestled between the river and picturesque bluffs that rise behind it. With a city population of around 50,000 and the metropolitan area just under 100,000, La Crosse offers visitors plenty of activities to do and sights to see, without the overwhelming hustle and bustle of bigger cities.
The longest stretch is about 143.4 miles on US 53. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.1 miles (CTH B; CTH P / County Road B/P): Navigation decision point; at 7.2 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining; at 7.6 miles (US 53): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.7 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.4 hours — manageable with a long break at La Crosse, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
