North La Crosse, WI to Markesan, WI is 140.3 miles and takes about 2h 52m via I 90, State Highway 44, and WI 33, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Wisconsin, traversing the Midwest region. Given its relatively short duration and high highway percentage, it's a straightforward drive. You'll likely find it a convenient option for a quick trip between these two points, easily completed in a single day.
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
70.2 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
88.9 mi
1h 35m
State Highway 44
17.4 mi
30m
WI 33
15.6 mi
23m
US 53
14 mi
15m
South Street
1.9 mi
3m
Rose Street
1.2 mi
2m
West Manchester Street
0.8 mi
1m
South Margaret Street
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 88.9 mi, about 1h 35m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Markesan, 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
16 mi·23 min·WI 33
7
Turn left onto WI 44
12 mi·20 min·State Highway 44
8
Continue on WI 44
1.9 mi·3 min·South Street
9
Continue on WI 44
2.8 mi·4 min·State Highway 44
10
At end of road, turn right onto WI 44; WI 73; CTH S
2.9 mi·5 min·State Highway 44
11
Continue on WI 44
0.8 mi·1 min·West Manchester Street
12
Turn left onto WI 44; CTH O
0.2 mi·28 sec·South Margaret Street
13
Turn right onto CTH S
164 ft·4 sec·West John Street
14
Arrive at destination
CTH S
Trip Plan
With a drive time under 3 hours, you have the flexibility to leave anytime. Consider departing in the morning to maximize daylight for your arrival in Markesan. The longest stretch without a major road change is 88.9 miles on I 90, so plan your fuel stops accordingly before you get too far onto that segment. The estimated fuel cost is $22, which is a reasonable budget for this distance. Since this is a single-day trip, you won't need to worry about overnight accommodations.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.2 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 16m 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 31 miles or 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.2 miles or 1h 16m 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 9m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Markesan, 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 140.3 miles and 2h 52m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 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.
The midpoint is around 70.2 miles from North La Crosse, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top 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.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 104.1 and 140.3 — 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
119.9 mi into trip|~2h 16m in|WI 44 / State Highway 44
Turn left onto WI 44 / State Highway 44
Navigation decision point
5
136.4 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|WI 44; WI 73; CTH S / State Highway 44
At end of road, turn right onto WI 44; WI 73; CTH S / State Highway 44
Navigation decision point
5
140.3 mi into trip|~2h 52m in|CTH S / West John Street
Turn right onto CTH S / West John Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.93 one way
$43.87 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.08
$48.17
premium
$4.89
$27.00
$54.00
diesel
$5.61
$30.98
$61.95
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 49.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.1
0
$14.73
$6.73
Efficient EV
35.1
0
$12.28
$5.61
EV Truck/SUV
56.1
0
$19.64
$8.98
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 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 18, 2026
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Late night
in North La Crosse on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Mostly Cloudy
NW 14 to 17 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:56PM CDT until April 18 at 11:31PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 3:56PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Markesan, WI
Late night
in Markesan on Sunday
Local time
5:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
1 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
2h 52m 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 77.4
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?
Nearly all of this 140.3-mile route is on highways, with a 97% highway share. You'll experience a long stretch of 88.9 miles on I 90 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect to encounter a higher density of exits and potential merging traffic on the interstate portion. The final leg on State Highway 44 and WI 33 will likely offer a more rural cruising experience.
97% 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: 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 44. Navigation is very simple - set it and forget it for most of the drive. The trickiest moment comes around 104.1 miles in.
Driving Effort2/10
Very easy - short and simple to drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
The drive from North La Crosse, WI to Markesan, WI is easy. At 2h 52m with 97% 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 119.9 miles (WI 44 / State Highway 44): Navigation decision point.
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 Markesan, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Baraboo along the way.
Baraboo
104.1 mi in|~1h 53m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 52m. Total distance: 140.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 88.9 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 119.9 miles (WI 44 / State Highway 44): Navigation decision point.
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 Markesan, WI before heading back.
