How far is North La Crosse, WI from Three Lakes, WI?

The driving distance from North La Crosse, WI to Three Lakes, WI is about 221.3 miles (356.1 km), with a travel time of about 04h 52m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 169.2 miles (272.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 09h 44m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
221.27 mi
04h 52m
Flight
169.2 mi
272.3 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from North La Crosse.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
169.2 mi
Kilometers
272.3 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
221.27 mi
Kilometers
356.1 km
Drive Time
04h 52m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 04h 52m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Three Lakes
Sat, Apr 18, 1:13 AM CDT
Return by in North La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 6:05 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave North La Crosse
2026-04-17T20:21
Arrive Three Lakes
Sat, Apr 18, 1:13 AM CDT
Route Timing
04h 52m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
10:52 AM to 12:52 PM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
7:16 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in North La Crosse
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Junction City
WI

Village in Portage County Wisconsin

From North La Crosse
110.5 mi
02h 26m
To Three Lakes
110.7 mi
02h 26m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
77°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 14 mph S
Destination
71°F
Friday

Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain

Starts
Fri, Apr 17 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
6 to 13 mph SSE

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between North La Crosse and Three Lakes.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between North La Crosse and Three Lakes.

  1. 1

    Start on Rose Street

    1.2 mi · 3 min · Rose Street

  2. 2

    Take the exit slight right

    14 mi · 15 min

  3. 3

    Continue straight

    27.9 mi · 30 min

  4. 4

    Take the exit slight left toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

    1.3 km · 55 sec

  5. 5

    Merge slight right

    2.9 mi · 3 min

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12, WI 21: Tomah, Necedah

    1385 ft · 34 sec

  7. 7

    Turn right onto East McCoy Boulevard

    1738 ft · 33 sec · East McCoy Boulevard

  8. 8

    Continue on State Highway 21

    4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 21

  9. 9

    Turn left onto State Highway 173

    23.6 mi · 34 min · State Highway 173

  10. 10

    At the end of the road, turn left onto State Highway 173

    1.3 mi · 2 min · State Highway 173

  11. 11

    Continue on State Highway 80

    125 m · 9 sec · State Highway 80

  12. 12

    Turn right onto State Highway 173

    9.1 mi · 13 min · State Highway 173

  13. 13

    Continue on County Highway G

    2 mi · 3 min · County Highway G

  14. 14

    At the end of the road, turn right onto State Highway 54

    2.1 mi · 3 min · State Highway 54

  15. 15

    Continue on Letendre Avenue

    1.4 mi · 2 min · Letendre Avenue

  16. 16

    At the end of the road, turn left onto Wisconsin River Drive

    1.6 mi · 2 min · Wisconsin River Drive

  17. 17

    Continue on 2nd Avenue South

    1.3 mi · 2 min · 2nd Avenue South

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward 2nd Avenue South

    20 m · 1 sec · 2nd Avenue South

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto 2nd Avenue South

    2782 ft · 1 min · 2nd Avenue South

  20. 20

    Turn left onto West Riverview Expressway

    1.3 km · 2 min · West Riverview Expressway

  21. 21

    Continue straight

    14.3 mi · 21 min

  22. 22

    Take the ramp right

    1753 ft · 43 sec

  23. 23

    Merge slight left onto US Highway 10

    3.8 mi · 4 min · US Highway 10

  24. 24

    Take the exit slight right toward WI 34, CTH P, CTH HH: Knowlton, Stevens Point

    1508 ft · 37 sec

  25. 25

    Turn left onto State Highway 134

    789 ft · 21 sec · State Highway 134

  26. 26

    Continue on WI 34

    1199 ft · 23 sec · WI 34

  27. 27

    Continue on State Highway 34

    9.5 mi · 13 min · State Highway 34

  28. 28

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 34

    40 m · 2 sec · State Highway 34

  29. 29

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 34

    1834 ft · 39 sec · State Highway 34

  30. 30

    Take the ramp left

    1704 ft · 42 sec

  31. 31

    Merge slight left

    12.3 mi · 13 min

  32. 32

    Merge slight right

    46.5 mi · 54 min

  33. 33

    Take the exit slight right toward US 8: Prentice, Rhinelander

    1980 ft · 48 sec

  34. 34

    Keep slight right to continue on US 8: Rhinelander

    85 m · 10 sec

  35. 35

    Turn right

    14.3 mi · 20 min

  36. 36

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward West Kemp Street

    42 m · 8 sec · West Kemp Street

  37. 37

    Exit the roundabout onto West Kemp Street

    1.1 mi · 2 min · West Kemp Street

  38. 38

    Turn left onto Arbutus Street

    145 m · 13 sec · Arbutus Street

  39. 39

    Continue on South Petham Street

    1319 ft · 41 sec · South Petham Street

  40. 40

    Turn slight left onto South Stevens Street

    2.5 mi · 5 min · South Stevens Street

  41. 41

    At the end of the road, turn left onto North Stevens Street

    1.2 km · 1 min · North Stevens Street

  42. 42

    Continue on State Highway 17

    9.2 mi · 13 min · State Highway 17

  43. 43

    Turn right onto County Road A

    8.7 mi · 15 min · County Road A

  44. 44

    Continue on Superior Street

    1 km · 2 min · Superior Street

  45. 45

    Turn left onto Lake Drive

    5 m · 1 sec · Lake Drive

  46. 46

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Lake Drive

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between North La Crosse and Three Lakes.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
46 steps
20 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
17
4 merges, 13 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
20.8 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
State Highway 34
69 mi · 31%
Rose Street
43.1 mi · 19%
State Highway 173
34 mi · 15%
West Riverview Expressway
15.5 mi · 7%
State Highway 17
9.24 mi · 4%
County Road A
8.72 mi · 4%
Longest Stretch

State Highway 34

Merge slight right

46.5 mi · 00h 54m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
04h 52m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
09h 44m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+52.1 mi
169.2 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Junction City
02h 26m from North La Crosse
Leave By
7:16 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving North La Crosse and Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain near Three Lakes.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from North La Crosse to Three Lakes?

The road trip is about 221.3 miles (356.1 km) and usually takes 04h 52m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Junction City is a useful midpoint, sitting about 110.5 miles from North La Crosse and 110.7 miles from Three Lakes.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 169.2 miles (272.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 52.1 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 7:16 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $29.45 one way or $58.90 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 69.4 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Partly Sunny then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around North La Crosse and Partly Sunny then Chance Light Rain near Three Lakes.

Stop Ideas Near Junction City

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Junction City, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Junction City.

BUS

Stevens Point, Wisconsin

17 mi away
200 Division St.
BUS

Stevens Point, WI

17 mi away
2050 4th Avenue
BUS

Wisconsin Rapids, WI

23 mi away
2611 West Grand Avenue
BUS

Wausau, Wisconsin

42 mi away
2415 Trailwood Lane

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between North La Crosse and Three Lakes. Straight-line distance: 169.2 mi (272.3 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 North La Crosse

A city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.

Population50,470
Coordinates43.8463500, -91.2481900
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Three Lakes

#2 Three Lakes

Human settlement in Oneida County, Wisconsin, United States of America

Population2,126
Coordinates45.7982900, -89.1629000
Altitude507
CountryUnited States
Start: North La Crosse (-91.24819, 43.84635)
End: Three Lakes (-89.1629, 45.79829)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 356 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)07h 22m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 31m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 25m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 41m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)03h 09m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 45m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.81 gal
29.56 L · about $29.45
Round trip
$58.90
15.62 gal · 59.12 L
Estimated CO2
69.4 kg one way
Round trip: 138.8 kg / 306 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $29.45 $58.90
Mid-grade $4.25 $33.22 $66.43
Premium $4.65 $36.35 $72.70
Diesel $5.30 $41.42 $82.85

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Wisconsin · Apr 18, 2026

There is no time difference between North La Crosse and Three Lakes. The current time is 20:21:03.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.