North La Crosse, WI to Manitowoc Rapids, WI is 230 miles and takes about 4h 36m via I 90 and WI 33, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This Midwest route stays within Wisconsin for its entire length. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, making for a straightforward trip. Given the relatively short duration and high highway share, this is a good option for a single-day drive when you want to get to your destination 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
115 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 9m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
88.9 mi
1h 35m
WI 33
33.4 mi
49m
State Highway 23
31.3 mi
37m
US 151
26.4 mi
31m
I 43
22.3 mi
23m
US 53
14 mi
15m
County Road C
6 mi
8m
South Rapids Road
1.9 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
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Manitowoc Rapids, 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 106Toward WI 33: Portage, Baraboo
5
Keep slight right at fork
175 ft·4 sec
6
Turn straight onto WI 33
33 mi·49 min·WI 33
7
Turn right onto CTH A; CTH C
0.3 mi·34 sec·East State Street
8
Continue on CTH A; CTH C
0.2 mi·22 sec·County Road A
9
Turn left onto CTH C
6.0 mi·8 min·County Road C
10
Take the ramp
99 ft·4 sec
Toward US 151 South: Sun Prairie
11
Merge onto US 151
136 ft·1 sec·US 151
12
Take the exit
329 ft·17 sec
Toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac
13
Turn left onto US 151
26 mi·31 min·US 151
14
Turn right onto CTH V
451 ft·13 sec·Rienzi Road
15
Turn left onto CTH K
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road K
16
Enter roundabout
212 ft·4 sec
17
Continue
0.1 mi·18 sec
18
Merge onto WI 23
0.8 mi·1 min·East Johnson Street
19
Continue on WI 23
31 mi·37 min·State Highway 23
Use the straight lane.
20
Take the exit
0.4 mi·58 sec
Toward I 43 North: Green Bay
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·51 sec
22
Merge onto I 43
22 mi·23 min·I 43
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 149Toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac
24
Keep slight right at fork
169 ft·4 sec
25
Turn straight onto WI 42
0.1 mi·20 sec·Calumet Avenue
26
Turn left onto CTH R
1.9 mi·3 min·South Rapids Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
27
Arrive at destination
CTH R
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 4h 36m drive, consider an early morning departure to maximize daylight. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost around $36, this route is easily manageable in a single day. The longest stretch without a significant break is on I 90, so plan your fuel and rest stops accordingly before you begin that segment. Since it's a relatively quick drive, you have flexibility; however, pay attention to the transition from I 90 to WI 33, as this is where the driving experience changes.
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 115 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 9m 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 51 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 115 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 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manitowoc Rapids, 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 230 miles and 4h 36m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 104.1 and 227.9 — 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
5
144.3 mi into trip|~2h 52m in
Take the exit toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 151 North: Fond du Lac
6
227.7 mi into trip|~4h 31m in
Take the exit toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 149
Toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc,...
5
227.9 mi into trip|~4h 32m in
Keep slight right at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$38.37 one way
$76.73 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$41.86
$83.72
premium
$5.25
$47.57
$95.13
diesel
$6.28
$56.83
$113.66
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 80.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69
0
$24.15
$11.04
Efficient EV
57.5
0
$20.13
$9.20
EV Truck/SUV
92
1
$32.20
$14.72
Gas CO2
80 kg
EV CO2
27 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Late night
in North La Crosse on Friday
Local time
1:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
S 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Manitowoc Rapids, WI
Late night
in Manitowoc Rapids on Friday
Local time
1:32 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
45°F
Fall River, WI
115 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
21 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
4h 36m 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.
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 79.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is predominantly highway driving, with 94% of the route on major roads like I 90 and WI 33. You'll experience a long stretch of 88.9 miles on I 90 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a steady pace for most of the drive, with the highway sections offering a consistent cruising experience. The shift to WI 33 and State Highway 23 will likely involve more local traffic and a change in scenery as you move away from the interstate.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 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?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and WI 33. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 104.1 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 230 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
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 144.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
971 ft600 ft
Total Climb
619 ft
Total Descent
667 ft
Highest Point
971 ft
~32.9 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.
On the drive from North La Crosse, WI to Manitowoc Rapids, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Baraboo along the way.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 36m. Total distance: 230 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 36m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (94%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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 17 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.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Manitowoc Rapids, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 17 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 144.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at Manitowoc Rapids, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
