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Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Augusta, 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 51m

Distance

75.8 mi

122 km

Drive Score

9/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 25 min
4 AM
1h 43m ★
6 AM
1h 52m
8 AM
2h 8m
10 AM
1h 57m
12 PM
1h 56m
3 PM
1h 58m
5 PM
2h 7m
8 PM
1h 47m

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

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

North La Crosse, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Eau Claire County, Wisconsin

Augusta, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from North La Crosse to Augusta, Wisconsin, expect a straightforward journey covering 75.8 miles. You should budget approximately 1 hour and 51 minutes for your drive, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. With fuel costs estimated at around $12, it is an affordable route for those traveling across the Midwest. Because the duration is relatively short, there is no need to split this into an overnight trip. Whether you are traveling for business or a quick getaway, the route offers a convenient connection between these two Wisconsin locations without requiring extensive travel time.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.9 miles from North La Crosse, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
South Main Street 24.2 mi 34m
US 53 19.5 mi 24m
US Highway 53 10.5 mi 14m
Main Street 7.7 mi 11m
County Highway R 6.8 mi 11m
10th Street 1.7 mi 3m
US 12 1.6 mi 3m
Rose Street 1.2 mi 2m
Longest stretch: South Main Street — 24.2 mi, about 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on US 53; CTH B

1.2 mi · 2 min · Rose Street
2

Take the exit onto US 53

1.3 mi · 1 min · US 53
3

Take the exit onto US 53

0.2 mi · 29 sec · US 53
Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska
4

Keep slight left at fork onto US 53

18 mi · 22 min · US 53
5

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 26 sec
6

Turn straight onto US 53

24 mi · 34 min · South Main Street
7

Continue on US 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · Ervin Street
8

Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D

7.7 mi · 11 min · Main Street
9

Continue on US 53

11 mi · 14 min · US Highway 53
10

Continue on US 53

0.5 mi · 1 min · Harmony Street
11

Turn right onto US 10

1.7 mi · 3 min · 10th Street
12

Continue on US 10

0.8 mi · 1 min · US Highway 10
13

Turn left onto CTH R

0.5 mi · 53 sec · County Road R
14

Continue on CTH R

6.8 mi · 11 min · County Highway R
15

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

1.6 mi · 3 min · US 12; WI 27
16

Turn left onto CTH G

198 ft · 5 sec · County Highway G
17

Arrive at destination

CTH G

Trip Plan

Because this is a relatively short 1 hour and 51 minute trip, you have the flexibility to depart whenever fits your schedule best. While the 75.8-mile distance is easily manageable in one go, keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving North La Crosse to ensure you stay within your $12 budget for the duration of the drive. Since there are no designated stops required by the route data, you have the freedom to pace yourself and pull over wherever you feel most comfortable. A helpful tip for this specific drive is to monitor the transition points between South Main Street and US 53 carefully, as road signage can change quickly. Taking advantage of the route's simplicity allows for a stress-free transit across the region.

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 37.9 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 24.2 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 17 miles or 22m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.9 miles or 52m 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 30m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving North La Crosse, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from North La Crosse, WI

This is one driving day of about 75.8 miles and 1h 51m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from North La Crosse, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on South Main Street for about 24.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

city in Wisconsin, USA

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Blair, WI

38 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

Holmen, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 17 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Blair, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.9 miles from North La Crosse, 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 8

5 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 74.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3
1.2 mi into trip | ~2m in | US 53

Take the exit onto US 53

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

5
2.6 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 53

Take the exit onto US 53 toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska

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

Toward US 53 North, WI 157: La Crosse, Onalaska
4
2.8 mi into trip | ~5m in | US 53

Keep slight left at fork onto US 53

Highway fork - watch signs carefully

4
45.6 mi into trip | ~1h 3m in | US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Turn right onto US 53; WI 121; CTH D / Main Street

Navigation decision point

4
74.1 mi into trip | ~1h 48m in | US 12; WI 27

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

Navigation decision point

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.85 one way

$23.70 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 27 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $13.01 $26.02
premium $4.89 $14.59 $29.17
diesel $5.61 $16.74 $33.47

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.7 0 $7.96 $3.64
Efficient EV 19 0 $6.63 $3.03
EV Truck/SUV 30.3 0 $10.61 $4.85

Gas CO2

27 kg

EV CO2

9 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.

Forecast as of Apr 19, 2026

Origin

North La Crosse, WI

Morning in North La Crosse on Sunday

Local time

6:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Augusta, WI

Morning in Augusta on Sunday

Local time

6:38 AM

CDT

Current temp

63°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Blair, WI

38 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

6 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 51m 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 mixed driving experience as you transition from local roads to more open highways. You will spend roughly 43% of your time on the highway, balancing out the slower, more deliberate segments of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is 24.2 miles on South Main Street, which serves as the backbone of the initial leg. As you navigate the transition onto US 53 and US Highway 53, the character of the road shifts from neighborhood thoroughfares to a more consistent highway pace. This combination keeps the drive engaging, as you move through varied road types rather than sticking to a single, monotonous interstate grind.

43% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 24.2 mi on South Main Street.

How Hard Is This Drive?

5/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near US 53.

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 75.8 miles you will encounter 8 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 1.2 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.6 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (US 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 75.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 51m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (43%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 24.2 miles on South Main Street. 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: at 1.2 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 2.6 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 2.8 miles (US 53): Highway fork - watch signs carefully.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Augusta, 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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