North La Crosse, WI to Clintonville, WI is 181.7 miles and takes about 3h 51m via I 90 and I 39, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive that primarily utilizes interstate highways, making it a practical choice for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Expect a focused highway experience for most of the journey.
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
90.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
44.4 mi
47m
I 39
33.6 mi
36m
State Highway 21
28.3 mi
39m
State Highway 161
18.9 mi
28m
US 53
14 mi
15m
State Highway 80
9.6 mi
13m
State Highway 22
9.6 mi
14m
US Highway 10
6.6 mi
8m
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 Clintonville, 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 61Toward 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
28 mi·39 min·State Highway 21
12
Turn left
0.3 mi·43 sec
13
Merge onto I 39; US 51
34 mi·36 min·I 39; US 51
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 158AToward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
15
Turn right onto US 10
1.3 mi·2 min·Main Street
16
Continue on US 10
6.6 mi·8 min·US Highway 10
17
Turn left
1.1 mi·1 min
18
Continue on this road
0.2 mi·18 sec·this road
19
Continue on Loberg Road
1.5 mi·2 min·Loberg Road
20
Continue on WI 161
9.2 mi·13 min·State Highway 161
21
Continue on WI 161
0.3 mi·32 sec·Mill Street
22
At end of road, turn right onto WI 49; WI 161
0.2 mi·21 sec·North Main Street
23
Turn left onto WI 49; WI 161; CTH J
1.0 mi·1 min·East State Street
24
Continue on WI 161
9.8 mi·14 min·State Highway 161
25
At end of road, turn right onto WI 110
230 ft·10 sec·State Highway 110
26
Turn left onto WI 22
9.6 mi·14 min·State Highway 22
27
Turn left onto US 45
5.3 mi·7 min·US Highway 45
28
Continue on US 45; WI 22; CTH D
1.1 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the straight lane.
29
Turn left onto 8th Place
107 ft·4 sec·8th Place
30
Arrive at destination
8th Place
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of just under 4 hours, this is comfortably a one-day trip. You could leave anytime in the morning and still arrive with plenty of daylight. Consider departing earlier in the day to make the most of your arrival time in Clintonville, or to allow for any unforeseen traffic delays. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimated at $28, planning your fuel fill-up before hitting the road or at a convenient exit on I 39 should be sufficient.
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 90.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 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 40 miles or 44m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 90.8 miles or 1h 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 3h 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Clintonville, 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.
+
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 North La Crosse, WI
This is one driving day of about 181.7 miles and 3h 51m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 40 miles from North La Crosse, 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 I 90 for about 44.4 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 59.6 and 134.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
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
4
100.4 mi into trip|~2h 3m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
6
134.3 mi into trip|~2h 40m in
Take the exit toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 158A
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.41 one way
$56.81 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg64 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$31.19
$62.38
premium
$4.89
$34.97
$69.93
diesel
$5.61
$40.12
$80.23
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 63.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $19 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
54.5
0
$19.08
$8.72
Efficient EV
45.4
0
$15.90
$7.27
EV Truck/SUV
72.7
0
$25.44
$11.63
Gas CO2
64 kg
EV CO2
21 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
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Clintonville, WI
Morning
in Clintonville on Sunday
Local time
7:01 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
64°F
Adams, WI
91 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
16 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
3h 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.
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...
4 mi from route
~9 min detour
Free
near mile 100.2
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is heavily highway-focused, with a 94% highway share, meaning you'll spend most of your time on interstates. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 44.4 miles on I 90, offering a good opportunity to settle into a steady pace. The drive is characterized by its consistent highway environment, allowing for a predictable and often fast-paced journey. You'll primarily be on I 90 and I 39, with a brief transition onto State Highway 21.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 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?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 59.6 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 3h 51m drive. You will face about 15 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: 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; at 67.1 miles (WI 80 / State Highway 80): Navigation decision point.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between North La Crosse, WI and Clintonville, WI, road signs point toward New Lisbon and Waupaca.
New Lisbon
59.6 mi in|~1h 5m
Waupaca
134.3 mi in|~2h 40m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 51m. Total distance: 181.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 44.4 miles on I 90. 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 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; at 67.1 miles (WI 80 / State Highway 80): Navigation decision point.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Clintonville, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
