North La Crosse, WI to Pound, WI is 241.7 miles and takes about 5h 2m via I 90 and I 41, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest. With over 90% of the drive on highways, expect a relatively straightforward and efficient transit. The route is best suited for a single day of driving, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. Consider this an easy hop across the state for your next adventure.
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
120.9 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
70.4 mi
1h 15m
I 90
51.9 mi
55m
State Highway 82
28.3 mi
42m
US 141
19 mi
21m
State Highway 23
16 mi
23m
State Highway 44
14.8 mi
21m
US 53
14 mi
15m
State Highway 23 & 73
9.5 mi
13m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 70.4 mi, about 1h 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Pound, 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
52 mi·55 min·I 90
4
Take the exit
0.3 mi·40 sec
Exit 69Toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford
5
Turn left onto State Highway 82
130 ft·5 sec·State Highway 82
6
Continue on State Highway 82
0.2 mi·17 sec·State Highway 82
7
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 82
29 ft·0 sec·State Highway 82
8
Continue on WI 82
25 mi·36 min·State Highway 82
9
Continue on WI 82
1.1 mi·1 min·West Ormsby Street
10
Continue on WI 82
3.5 mi·5 min·State Highway 82
11
Continue on State Highway 23
6.1 mi·8 min·State Highway 23
12
Continue on WI 23
1.8 mi·2 min·Underwood Avenue
13
Continue on WI 23; CTH C
0.2 mi·17 sec·West Montello Street
14
Continue on WI 22; WI 23; CTH C
0.6 mi·50 sec·East Montello Street
15
Continue on WI 23
9.9 mi·14 min·State Highway 23
16
Continue on WI 23
0.5 mi·49 sec·South 2nd Street
17
Turn right onto WI 73; CTH J
0.8 mi·1 min·West Main Street
18
Turn right onto WI 23; WI 73; CTH D
0.8 mi·1 min·South Fulton Street
19
Continue on WI 23; WI 73
9.5 mi·13 min·State Highway 23 & 73
Use the straight lane.
20
Continue on WI 23; WI 49
3.4 mi·4 min·State Highway 23 & 49
21
Continue on WI 23; WI 49
1.4 mi·2 min·West Fond du Lac Street
22
Turn left onto CTH FF
403 ft·15 sec·North Union Street
23
Turn straight onto West Oshkosh Street
1.4 mi·4 min·West Oshkosh Street
24
Keep slight left at fork onto East Oshkosh Street
263 ft·8 sec·East Oshkosh Street
25
Continue on WI 44
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 44
26
Continue on WI 44; WI 91
0.8 mi·1 min·Ripon Rd
27
Continue on WI 44; WI 91
0.2 mi·21 sec·State Highway 44/91
28
Turn left
0.2 mi·33 sec
Toward I-41_North: Appleton
29
Merge onto I 41; US 41
70 mi·1 hr 15 min·I 41; US 41
Toward AppletonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Keep slight left at fork onto US 141
19 mi·21 min·US 141
Exit 187Toward US 141: Crivitz, Iron Mountain
31
Take the exit onto US 141 Business
0.4 mi·52 sec·US 141 Business
Toward US 141 Business, CTH B: Coleman, Pound
32
Turn right onto CTH B; US 141 BUS
0.5 mi·52 sec·County Road B
33
Continue on CTH CP; US 141 BUS
1.6 mi·3 min·County Road CP
34
Continue on CTH CP; US 141 BUS
0.5 mi·1 min·21st Road
35
Turn left onto CTH Q
28 ft·0 sec·County Road Q
36
Arrive at destination
CTH Q
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 5-hour drive, aim for an early morning departure from North La Crosse, WI, to maximize daylight. Since the trip is under 6 hours and entirely within Wisconsin, you can comfortably complete it in one day. The main roads are primarily interstates, so plan for your single stop to be around the halfway point for fuel and a break. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 70 miles on I 41. Given the manageable distance, you have flexibility to adjust your schedule if needed.
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 120.9 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 70.4 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 53 miles or 58m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 120.9 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 10m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Pound, 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 241.7 miles and 5h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 53 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 41 for about 70.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 67.1 and 219.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 13m in
Take the exit toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 69
Toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford
5
67.6 mi into trip|~1h 14m in|State Highway 82
At end of road, turn left onto State Highway 82
Navigation decision point
6
149.1 mi into trip|~3h 17m in
Turn left toward I-41_North: Appleton
Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch
Toward I-41_North: Appleton
6
149.3 mi into trip|~3h 18m in|I 41; US 41
Merge onto I 41; US 41 toward Appleton
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward Appleton
7
219.7 mi into trip|~4h 33m in|US 141
Keep slight left at fork onto US 141 toward US 141: Crivitz, Iron Mountain
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 187
Toward US 141: Crivitz, Iron Mountain
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.79 one way
$75.57 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg85 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$41.49
$82.98
premium
$4.89
$46.51
$93.03
diesel
$5.61
$53.36
$106.73
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: 84.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $25 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
72.5
0
$25.38
$11.60
Efficient EV
60.4
0
$21.15
$9.67
EV Truck/SUV
96.7
1
$33.84
$15.47
Gas CO2
85 kg
EV CO2
28 kg (67% 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 Apr 20, 2026
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Morning
in North La Crosse on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Pound, WI
Morning
in Pound on Tuesday
Local time
6:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°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
20 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
5h 2m 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...
14 mi from route
~36 min detour
Free
near mile 91.7
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 drive is predominantly highway, with 94% of the 241.7 miles spent on major interstates like I 90 and I 41. You'll experience a longest stretch of 70.4 miles on I 41 without needing to exit. Surface roads will only become prominent in the final segment of your trip. Expect a steady pace with fewer intersections for most of the drive.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
36 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 70.4 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and I 90. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 67.1 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 241.7 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 67.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles (State Highway 82): Navigation decision point; at 149.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
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 Pound, WI, road signs point toward Oxford, Appleton and Iron Mountain.
Oxford
67.1 mi in|~1h 13m
Appleton
149.3 mi in|~3h 18m|via I 41; US 41
Iron Mountain
219.7 mi in|~4h 33m|via US 141
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 2m. Total distance: 241.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 2m 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 70.4 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 14 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.
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 14 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 67.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 67.6 miles (State Highway 82): Navigation decision point; at 149.1 miles: Complex interchange - multiple decisions in a short stretch.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 5.0 hours each way, a round trip means 10.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Pound, WI before the return drive.
