North La Crosse, WI to Stoughton, WI is 151.7 miles and takes about 2h 48m via I 90, US 53, and I 39, with a fuel budget near $24 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving you across the Midwest region. Given its relatively short duration and mostly highway profile, this is a straightforward drive. You can expect a quick transit between these two points, making it ideal for a same-day trip or a brief leg of a larger journey.
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
75.9 miles from North La Crosse, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
120.3 mi
2h 8m
US 53
14 mi
15m
I 39
9.3 mi
9m
County Highway N
4.1 mi
5m
County Road N
1.5 mi
2m
Rose Street
1.2 mi
2m
East Main Street
0.9 mi
2m
South 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 120.3 mi, about 2h 8m
Traffic on I-90
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 36 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
3 PM
~1,282 veh/hr typical
· worst 1,894
Quietest
2 AM
~154 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
8.3×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Stoughton, 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
120 mi·2 hr 8 min·I 90
Use the straight lane.
4
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39; I 90
9.3 mi·9 min·I 39; I 90
Toward I 39, I 90: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Exit 147Toward CTH N: Stoughton, Cottage GroveUse the slight right lane.
6
Keep slight right at fork
380 ft·9 sec
Exit 147Toward CTH N: Stoughton, Cottage Grove
7
Turn straight onto CTH N
0.2 mi·25 sec·County Highway N
8
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
138 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
9
Continue on CTH N
2.4 mi·3 min·County Highway N
10
Continue on CTH B; CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road N
11
Continue on CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Highway N
12
Turn right onto US 51; CTH A
0.9 mi·2 min·East Main Street
13
Turn right onto South 4th Street
80 ft·3 sec·South 4th Street
14
Arrive at destination
South 4th Street
Trip Plan
For this 2-hour and 48-minute drive, you have flexibility with your departure time. Leaving mid-morning should allow you to avoid the heaviest commuter traffic. With only one recommended stop and a short duration, you can easily complete this trip in a single day. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the longest stretch without exits is over 120 miles on I 90. The estimated fuel cost is around $24, so plan accordingly before you depart.
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 75.9 miles from North La Crosse, WI, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 120.3 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 33 miles or 37m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 75.9 miles or 1h 23m 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 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Stoughton, 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 151.7 miles and 2h 48m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 120.3 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 135.5 and 150.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
135.5 mi into trip|~2h 26m in|I 39; I 90
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
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 39, I 90: Chicago
8
144.8 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward CTH N: Stoughton, Cottage Grove
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 147
Toward CTH N: Stoughton, Cottage Grove
8
145.1 mi into trip|~2h 37m in
Keep slight right at fork toward CTH N: Stoughton, Cottage Grove
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 147
Toward CTH N: Stoughton, Cottage Grove
5
145.4 mi into trip|~2h 38m in|CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
4
150.8 mi into trip|~2h 45m in|US 51; CTH A / East Main Street
Turn right onto US 51; CTH A / East Main Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$25.22 one way
$50.44 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg53 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$27.47
$54.95
premium
$5.18
$30.96
$61.91
diesel
$5.35
$31.95
$63.91
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$25
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$50–$75
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 53.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
45.5
0
$15.93
$7.28
Efficient EV
37.9
0
$13.27
$6.07
EV Truck/SUV
60.7
0
$21.24
$9.71
Gas CO2
53 kg
EV CO2
18 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.
Forecast as of May 25, 2026
Origin
North La Crosse, WI
Evening
in North La Crosse on Wednesday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
86°F
Sunny
S 14 mph5% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued May 25 at 2:14PM CDT until May 26 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Stoughton, WI
Evening
in Stoughton on Wednesday
Local time
5:57 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 48m 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 78.5
Park Closure: Devil’s Lake Segment — Balanced Rock Trail Closed May 4–8
Park Closure: Lodi Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is primarily highway driving, with 95% of the 151.7 miles on major roads like I 90. You'll experience a long stretch of 120.3 miles on I 90, offering consistent cruising. The transition to surface roads will be minimal, occurring in the final miles as you approach Stoughton.
95% 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: 120.3 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and US 53. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 135.5 miles in near I 39; I 90.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 48m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow 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 144.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Stoughton is in Southwest Wisconsin. Stoughton is a lovely town of 13,000 located just 15 miles south of Madison. Founded in 1847 and known for its Norwegian heritage, including the famous Syttende Mai celebration of Norwegian Independence Day on May 17th. Stroll the tree-lined streets of Stoughton's historic neighborhoods and see hundreds of beautiful Victorian-era homes. Explore the community's vibrant Main Street featuring shops and galleries full of art, jewelry, antiques, and collectibles.
Top landmarks
•East Park Historic District — historic district in Wisconsin, United States
•Jens and Ingeborg Cold House — house in Stoughton, Wisconsin
•East Side Historic District — historic district in Stoughton, Wisconsin, United States
The longest stretch is about 120.3 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
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 135.5 miles (I 39; I 90): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 144.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 145.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Stoughton, WI before heading back.
