Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Sep 6, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
3h 47m
Distance
201.7 mi
325 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$31
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Williams Bay, WI
Tom Fisk
North La Crosse, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Williams Bay to North La Crosse is 201.7 miles and takes about 3h 47m via I 90 and I 39, with a fuel budget near $27 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Wisconsin, moving you from the Midwest region to a similar Midwestern landscape. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on major interstates, making it a practical choice if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. Plan for a single day, as the duration is well within comfortable driving limits.
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
100.9 miles from Williams Bay, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 57m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 90 | 105.8 mi | 1h 53m |
| I 39 | 65.8 mi | 1h 10m |
| US 14 | 14.5 mi | 19m |
| I 43 | 5.4 mi | 5m |
| State Highway 50 | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Rose Street | 1.6 mi | 3m |
| State Highway 67 | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Racine Street | 1.5 mi | 2m |
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 Williams Bay, WI and North La Crosse, WI.
Start on WI 67
Turn left onto WI 50
Continue on WI 50
Take the ramp
Merge onto I 43
Take the exit
Keep slight right at fork
Merge onto US 14
Turn left onto US 14; WI 11
Turn left onto WI 11
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto I 39; I 90
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
Take the exit onto I 90; US 53
Turn left onto US 53; WI 35
Arrive at destination
To make the most of this 3h 47m drive, consider an early morning departure from Williams Bay to maximize your daylight hours. With only 201.7 miles, you can easily complete this in one day. You'll encounter dense exits and services along I 90 and I 39, so refueling and rest stops are plentiful; the estimated fuel cost of $27 is quite low. A good time to stop would be around the halfway mark, perhaps after the first 1.5-2 hours of driving, to stretch your legs.
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 44 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100.9 miles or 1h 57m 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 6m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near North La Crosse, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Williams Bay, 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 Williams Bay, WI
This is one driving day of about 201.7 miles and 3h 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
101 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 44 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 100.9 miles from Williams Bay, 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 105.8 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 12.1 and 199.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Take the exit toward US 14: Darien, Janesville
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Enter roundabout toward I-90 WEST, I-39 NORTH: Madison
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 toward I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit onto I 90; US 53 toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$31.27 one way
$62.54 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.32 | $34.29 | $68.58 |
| premium | $4.93 | $39.13 | $78.27 |
| diesel | $5.60 | $44.46 | $88.92 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 60.5 | 0 | $21.18 | $9.68 |
| Efficient EV | 50.4 | 0 | $17.65 | $8.07 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 80.7 | 1 | $28.24 | $12.91 |
Gas CO2
71 kg
EV CO2
24 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Williams Bay on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
70°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
Destination
Night in North La Crosse on Saturday
Local time
9:31 PM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Isolated Showers And Thunderstorms then Scattered Showers And Thunderstorms
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
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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.
With 98% of the 201.7-mile route on highways, you'll spend nearly all your time on interstates like I 90 and I 39. The longest continuous stretch without a significant change in road type is 105.8 miles on I 90. You can expect a predominantly high-speed, limited-access road experience for the vast majority of this trip. The transition to surface roads, if any, will be minimal and occur very late in 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 12.1 miles in.
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 12 significant decision points across 201.7 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 12.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 28.3 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 94.4 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Mostly flat terrain
Total Climb
223 ft
Total Descent
450 ft
Highest Point
948 ft
~157.8 mi in
Elevation Range
299 ft
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Williams Bay, WI and North La Crosse, WI, road signs point toward Janesville and La Crosse.
Janesville
La Crosse
Williams Bay is a lakeside community on the western side of Lake Geneva in Walworth County, Wisconsin. It is and home to George Williams College of Aurora University.
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 3h 47m. Total distance: 201.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). 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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