Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Morning in North La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
10:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North La Crosse, WI to Port Edwards, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 58m
Distance
90.9 mi
146 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 50m
★
6 AM
1h 58m
8 AM
2h 15m
10 AM
2h 4m
12 PM
2h 2m
3 PM
2h 5m
5 PM
2h 14m
8 PM
1h 53m
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
Port Edwards, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
North La Crosse, WI to Port Edwards, WI is 90.9 miles and takes about 1h 58m via State Highway 173, I 90, and US 53, with a fuel budget near $14 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Wisconsin. It's a short, predominantly highway trip that should be straightforward for most drivers. Given its short duration, it’s ideal for a same-day excursion or a quick leg of a longer journey.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
45.5 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 |
|---|---|---|
| State Highway 173 | 34 mi | 49m |
| I 90 | 27.9 mi | 29m |
| US 53 | 14 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 21 | 4 mi | 5m |
| I 94 | 2.9 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 54 | 2.1 mi | 3m |
| County Highway G | 2 mi | 3m |
| Rose Street | 1.2 mi | 2m |
Longest stretch:
State Highway 173
— 34 mi, about 49m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Port Edwards, 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
28 mi
·
29 min
·
I 90
4
Take the exit
0.8 mi
·
55 sec
Exit 45
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
5
Merge onto I 94
2.9 mi
·
3 min
·
I 94
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
Exit 143
Toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
7
Turn right onto WI 21
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
·
East McCoy Boulevard
8
Continue on WI 21
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
State Highway 21
9
Turn left onto WI 173
24 mi
·
33 min
·
State Highway 173
10
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 173
11
Continue on WI 80; WI 173
410 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 80
12
Turn right onto WI 173
9.1 mi
·
13 min
·
State Highway 173
13
Continue on CTH G
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway G
14
At end of road, turn right onto WI 54
2.1 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 54
15
Continue on WI 54
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Letendre Avenue
16
Turn left onto 5th Street
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
5th Street
17
Arrive at destination
5th Street
Trip Plan
This is a relatively short drive, so you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving in the morning will give you ample daylight to complete the 1h 58m trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $14, you won't need to worry too much about refueling stops, but it's always wise to top off before leaving North La Crosse. The longest stretch is 34 miles on State Highway 173, so plan for that segment to be uninterrupted cruising.
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 45.5 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 34 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 45.5 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 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Port Edwards, 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 90.9 miles and 1h 58m.
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 State Highway 173 for about 34 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
45 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 45.5 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 105 decision points cluster between mile 43.1 and 87.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
43.1 mi into trip
|
~47m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 45
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
6
46.8 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 143
Toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah
4
51.3 mi into trip
|
~58m in
|
WI 173 / State Highway 173
Turn left onto WI 173 / State Highway 173
Navigation decision point
4
74.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 32m in
|
WI 80; WI 173 / State Highway 173
At end of road, turn left onto WI 80; WI 173 / State Highway 173
Navigation decision point
4
87.4 mi into trip
|
~1h 51m in
|
WI 54 / State Highway 54
At end of road, turn right onto WI 54 / State Highway 54
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$14.21 one way
$28.42 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
32 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $15.60 | $31.21 |
| premium | $4.89 | $17.49 | $34.99 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $20.07 | $40.14 |
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: 31.8 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 | 27.3 | 0 | $9.54 | $4.36 |
| Efficient EV | 22.7 | 0 | $7.95 | $3.64 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 36.4 | 0 | $12.73 | $5.82 |
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
Port Edwards, WI
Morning in Port Edwards on Tuesday
Local time
10:27 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°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
19 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
1h 58m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 93% of this 90.9-mile drive on highways, meaning you'll experience mostly high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch on a single road is 34 miles on State Highway 173. Expect to transition from surface roads to interstate driving, with I 90 likely offering a more urban merging experience before you continue on US 53.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 34 mi on State Highway 173.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 173 and I 90. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 43.1 miles in.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 58m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.3 miles (WI 173 / State Highway 173): Navigation decision point.
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.
Between North La Crosse, WI and Port Edwards, WI, road signs point toward Saint Paul and Necedah.
Saint Paul
43.1 mi in
|
~47m
Necedah
46.8 mi in
|
~51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 58m. Total distance: 90.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 34 miles on State Highway 173. 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 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 46.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 51.3 miles (WI 173 / State Highway 173): Navigation decision point.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Port Edwards, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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