Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0 mi from route
Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Hartford, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 22, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 32m
Distance
170.3 mi
274 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$28
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
3h 20m
★
6 AM
3h 32m
8 AM
3h 57m
10 AM
3h 41m
12 PM
3h 38m
3 PM
3h 42m
5 PM
3h 55m
8 PM
3h 25m
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
Hartford, WI
Quang Vuong
Trip Overview
North La Crosse, WI to Hartford, WI is 170.3 miles and takes about 3h 32m via I 90 and State Highway 16, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest region. It's a straightforward trip primarily on major roadways. With a recommended one-day drive, you'll have plenty of time to get on the road and reach your destination without feeling rushed.
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
85.1 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 32m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 88.9 mi | 1h 35m |
| State Highway 16 | 22.6 mi | 31m |
| State Highway 60 | 16.9 mi | 25m |
| US 53 | 14 mi | 15m |
| Highway 16 & 60 | 13.7 mi | 18m |
| WI 33 | 4 mi | 5m |
| US Highway 51 & State Highway 16 | 2.8 mi | 4m |
| West Sumner Street | 2.2 mi | 3m |
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 88.9 mi, about 1h 35m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,290 veh/hr typical · worst 1,940
Quietest
2 AM
~155 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
Averaged across 103 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Hartford, 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
89 mi
·
1 hr 35 min
·
I 90
Use the straight lane.
4
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
Exit 106
Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
5
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft
·
4 sec
6
Turn straight onto WI 33
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
WI 33
7
Turn right onto US 51; WI 16
1.6 mi
·
3 min
·
West Wisconsin Street
8
Continue on US 51; WI 16
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
US Highway 51 & State Highway 16
9
Turn left onto WI 16
23 mi
·
31 min
·
State Highway 16
10
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
James Street
11
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
0.4 mi
·
57 sec
·
Manning Street
12
Continue on WI 16; WI 60
14 mi
·
18 min
·
Highway 16 & 60
13
Continue on WI 60
15 mi
·
22 min
·
State Highway 60
14
Enter roundabout onto WI 60
129 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 60
15
Continue on WI 60
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 60
16
Continue on WI 60
2.2 mi
·
3 min
·
West Sumner Street
17
Turn left onto CTH K
25 ft
·
0 sec
·
North Main Street
18
Arrive at destination
CTH K
Trip Plan
Since this is a single-day trip of just over 3.5 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the drive and settle in. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before the 88.9-mile segment on I 90, as services can be spread out on interstates. The transition from I 90 to State Highway 16 marks the point where you'll want to pay closer attention to your navigation as you move onto state highways.
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 85.1 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 32m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 88.9 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 37 miles or 41m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 85.1 miles or 1h 32m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hartford, 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 170.3 miles and 3h 32m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 37 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 88.9 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
85 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 37 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 85.1 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 90 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 88.9 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Bangor Rest Area 15
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Sparta Rest Area 16
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.2 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
La Crosse Rest Area 31
1.2 mi from route
Rest Area
1.8 mi from route
Rest Area
2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
2.1 mi from route
Rest Area
2.2 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 65 decision points cluster between mile 104.1 and 170.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
104.1 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Take the exit toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 106
Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
5
104.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 53m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
4
112.7 mi into trip
|
~2h 7m in
|
WI 16 / State Highway 16
Turn left onto WI 16 / State Highway 16
Navigation decision point
4
166.1 mi into trip
|
~3h 25m in
|
WI 60 / State Highway 60
Enter roundabout onto WI 60 / State Highway 60
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
170.3 mi into trip
|
~3h 32m in
|
CTH K / North Main Street
Turn left onto CTH K / North Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$28.41 one way
$56.82 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
60 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $31.00 | $61.99 |
| premium | $5.25 | $35.22 | $70.44 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $42.08 | $84.16 |
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: 59.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 51.1 | 0 | $17.88 | $8.17 |
| Efficient EV | 42.6 | 0 | $14.90 | $6.81 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 68.1 | 0 | $23.84 | $10.90 |
Gas CO2
60 kg
EV CO2
20 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.
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Morning in North La Crosse on Thursday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Destination
Hartford, WI
Morning in Hartford on Thursday
Local time
7:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph
0% chance
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
3h 32m 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...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 76.3
Caution: Use Caution — Tisch Mills Segment
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost entirely highway, with 96% of the 170.3 miles on major roads like I 90. You'll experience an 88.9-mile stretch on I 90 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to see a high density of exits and merging traffic as you navigate these principal arteries. State Highway 16 and State Highway 60 will guide you for the final portion of the trip.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 88.9 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
2/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and State Highway 16. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 104.1 miles in.
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 Hartford, WI is easy. At 3h 32m with 96% highway, most drivers will find it relaxed and low-stress.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 104.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 112.7 miles (WI 16 / State Highway 16): Navigation decision point.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,019 ft
648 ft
Total Climb
658 ft
Total Descent
325 ft
Highest Point
1,019 ft
~36.5 mi in
Elevation Range
371 ft
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 Hartford, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Baraboo along the way.
Baraboo
104.1 mi in
|
~1h 53m
About the Cities
Starting in North La Crosse, WI
Full guide →Founded 1842
Top landmarks
- • St. Rose of Viterbo Convent — historic church in Wisconsin, United States
- • La Crosse station — train station in La Crosse, Wisconsin, US
- • Christ Episcopal Church — church building in Wisconsin, United States of America
Arriving in Hartford, WI
Full guide →Founded 1844
Hartford is the capital of the state of Connecticut in the United States of America. It is home to the country's oldest public art museum (Wadsworth Atheneum), and the Mark Twain House, in which the author wrote his most famous works and raised his family. Mark Twain wrote in 1868, "Of all the beautiful towns it has been my fortune to see this is the chief."
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 32m. Total distance: 170.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 32m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 88.9 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 15 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
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 104.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 104.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully; at 112.7 miles (WI 16 / State Highway 16): 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 3.5 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Hartford, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
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, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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