Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Afternoon in North La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
12:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Big Flats, 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
91.7 mi
148 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$14
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
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.
North La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Big Flats, WI
Noland Live
Trip Overview
North La Crosse, WI to Big Flats, WI is 91.7 miles and takes about 1h 51m via I 90, US 53, and State Highway 21, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin for its entirety, making it a straightforward journey. Given its relatively short distance and duration, this route is ideal for a single-day drive without feeling rushed. You'll primarily be on well-maintained highways, so expect a consistent pace. Consider this for a quick transfer between locations or a brief excursion within the state.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 50m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 44.4 mi | 47m |
| US 53 | 14 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 21 | 13.6 mi | 19m |
| State Highway 80 | 9.6 mi | 13m |
| State Highway 13 | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Rose Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
| South Main Street | 1.2 mi | 1m |
| West 3rd Street | 1 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 44.4 mi, about 47m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Big Flats, WI.
1
Start on US 53; CTH B
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Rose Street
2
Take the exit onto US 53
14 mi
·
15 min
·
US 53
3
Continue on I 90
44 mi
·
47 min
·
I 90
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
Exit 61
Toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
5
Keep slight left at fork
91 ft
·
6 sec
6
Turn left onto WI 80
0.4 mi
·
40 sec
·
East Bridge Street
7
Continue on WI 80
6.8 mi
·
9 min
·
State Highway 80
8
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 80
9
Continue on WI 80
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
South Main Street
10
Turn right onto WI 21
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
West 3rd Street
11
Continue on WI 21
14 mi
·
19 min
·
State Highway 21
12
Turn left onto WI 13
6.1 mi
·
8 min
·
State Highway 13
13
Turn right onto CTH C
19 ft
·
0 sec
·
CTH C
14
Arrive at destination
CTH C
Trip Plan
With a total drive time of just under two hours, this route offers excellent flexibility for your schedule. You can comfortably depart in the morning and arrive well before midday, or even leave in the afternoon. There are no specific stops indicated, so plan your own breaks as needed, perhaps around the 44.4-mile mark on I 90. Given the low fuel cost estimate of $14, you likely won't need to worry about frequent refueling stops, but it's always wise to check your gauge before heading out. Ensure you have enough gas to cover the entire 91.7 miles, especially if you plan to deviate from the main roads upon arrival.
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 45.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 44.4 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 20 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 45.8 miles or 50m 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 28m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Big Flats, 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 91.7 miles and 1h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 20 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 I 90 for about 44.4 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
46 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 20 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 45.8 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 75 decision points cluster between mile 1.2 and 67.1 — 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
6
59.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 5m in
Take the exit toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward WI 80: Necedah, New Lisbon
5
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
3
59.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
|
WI 80 / East Bridge Street
Turn left onto WI 80 / East Bridge Street
Navigation decision point
5
67.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 16m in
|
WI 80 / State Highway 80
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80 / State Highway 80
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.34 one way
$28.67 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.74 | $31.48 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.65 | $35.29 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.25 | $40.49 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$14
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$39–$64
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 32.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 27.5 | 0 | $9.63 | $4.40 |
| Efficient EV | 22.9 | 0 | $8.02 | $3.67 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.7 | 0 | $12.84 | $5.87 |
Gas CO2
32 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (66% 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
Big Flats, WI
Afternoon in Big Flats on Sunday
Local time
12:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
79°F
Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms
S 9 to 18 mph
76% chance
Live forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 17 at 7:06AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Watch
Flood Watch issued April 17 at 7:06AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
22 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
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
near mile 85.4
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the route utilizing major roads like I 90. Expect a consistent and efficient travel experience for the majority of your trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 44.4 miles on I 90, offering a good opportunity to maintain a steady speed. As you transition to US 53 and then State Highway 21, the character remains largely highway-oriented, ensuring a smooth journey from start to finish. The profile suggests minimal complexity, making it a predictable drive.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 44.4 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 53. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 1.2 miles in near US 53.
Driving Effort
2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Big Flats, WI is easy. At 1h 51m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
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 59.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
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 North La Crosse, WI to Big Flats, WI, road signs begin pointing toward New Lisbon along the way.
New Lisbon
59.6 mi in
|
~1h 5m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 51m. Total distance: 91.7 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 (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 44.4 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: at 1.2 miles (US 53): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 59.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 59.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Big Flats, 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, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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