Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 24, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
4h 16m
Distance
225.6 mi
363 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$38
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
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
Silver Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
North La Crosse, WI to Silver Lake, WI is 225.6 miles and takes about 4h 16m via I 90, I 39, and US 53, with a fuel budget near $36 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest region, traversing Wisconsin for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on major interstates, making it a straightforward and efficient drive. If you're looking for a simple, direct connection between these two points with minimal fuss, this route fits the bill.
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
112.8 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 2m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 120.3 mi | 2h 8m |
| I 39 | 37.2 mi | 39m |
| US 53 | 14 mi | 15m |
| I 43 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| WI 11 | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| State Highway 50 | 10.2 mi | 14m |
| US 12 | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| US 14 | 3.5 mi | 4m |
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 84 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,411 veh/hr typical · worst 2,093
Quietest
2 AM
~166 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse, WI and Silver Lake, WI.
Start on US 53; CTH B
Take the exit onto US 53
Continue on I 90
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
Continue on WI 11
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
Continue on WI 11
Turn straight onto WI 11
Continue on US 14
Turn left
Merge onto I 43
Take the exit
Keep slight left at fork
Merge onto US 12
Take the exit
Continue on WI 50; WI 120
Continue on WI 50; WI 83
Continue on WI 50
Turn right onto CTH B
Continue on CTH B
Turn sharp right onto Railroad Street
Arrive at destination
Given the 4h 16m duration, departing in the morning from North La Crosse, WI, allows ample time to reach Silver Lake, WI, before evening. With a single recommended stop, plan for a break around the halfway point or when you feel ready, perhaps during the long 120.3-mile stretch on I 90. The fuel cost is estimated at $36, so ensure your tank is adequately filled before starting, especially before any extended highway segments. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility to adjust your departure time as 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.
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 50 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 112.8 miles or 2h 2m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Silver Lake, WI than in the middle of the route.
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 225.6 miles and 4h 16m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
113 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.
A short stop after about 50 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 112.8 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 120.3 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 135.5 and 210 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90 toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward WI 11 East: Delavan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Take the exit toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Regular Gas
$37.63 one way
$75.27 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.62 | $41.06 | $82.12 |
| premium | $5.25 | $46.66 | $93.31 |
| diesel | $6.28 | $55.74 | $111.49 |
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: 78.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 67.7 | 0 | $23.69 | $10.83 |
| Efficient EV | 56.4 | 0 | $19.74 | $9.02 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 90.2 | 1 | $31.58 | $14.44 |
Gas CO2
79 kg
EV CO2
26 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Late night in North La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Mostly Sunny
Destination
Late night in Silver Lake on Saturday
Local time
2:50 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
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.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 96% of the 225.6 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 120.3 miles on I 90 before transitioning to other major roads. Expect a high density of exits and services for much of the trip due to the interstate nature. Surface roads are encountered for only a small portion towards the end of the drive.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 135.5 miles in near I 39; I 90.
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 13 significant decision points across 225.6 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 135.5 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 172.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 173 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
475 ft
Total Descent
372 ft
Highest Point
932 ft
~48.3 mi in
Elevation Range
284 ft
Founded 1842
Top landmarks
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 16m. Total distance: 225.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 16m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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