How far is Rochester, WI from North La Crosse, WI?

The driving distance from Rochester, WI to North La Crosse, WI is about 206.3 miles (332 km), with a travel time of about 03h 20m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 170.1 miles (273.8 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 41m 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
206.33 mi
03h 20m
Flight
170.14 mi
273.82 km direct

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

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Rochester.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
170.14 mi
Kilometers
273.82 km
Flight Time
00h 20m

Driving Distance

Road route
206.33 mi
Kilometers
332.05 km
Drive Time
03h 20m

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 03h 20m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in North La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 1:17 PM CDT
Return by in Rochester
Sat, Apr 18, 4:37 PM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Rochester
2026-04-18T09:56
Arrive North La Crosse
Sat, Apr 18, 1:17 PM CDT
Route Timing
03h 20m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:21 AM to 11:21 AM CDT

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

Leave by
10:18 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Rochester
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
Portage
WI

Fourth-class city in Columbia County, Wisconsin

From Rochester
103.6 mi
01h 40m
To North La Crosse
102.7 mi
01h 40m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
59°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W
Destination
47°F
Saturday

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Rain And Snow Showers

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 14 mph NW

Driving Route Map

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

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

  1. 1

    Start on West Main Street

    85 m · 10 sec · West Main Street

  2. 2

    Turn right onto North Front Street

    1752 ft · 60 sec · North Front Street

  3. 3

    Continue on North Browns Lake Drive

    893 ft · 25 sec · North Browns Lake Drive

  4. 4

    Continue on South Jefferson Street

    1153 ft · 39 sec · South Jefferson Street

  5. 5

    Turn left onto Ela Avenue

    1219 ft · 33 sec · Ela Avenue

  6. 6

    Continue on Buena Park Road

    1.3 mi · 3 min · Buena Park Road

  7. 7

    Turn left onto High Drive

    1895 ft · 40 sec · High Drive

  8. 8

    Turn straight onto Northwest Highway

    5.9 mi · 8 min · Northwest Highway

  9. 9

    Continue on State Highway 83

    1511 ft · 24 sec · State Highway 83

  10. 10

    Continue on South Rochester Street

    3.3 mi · 7 min · South Rochester Street

  11. 11

    Continue on State Highway 83

    2.9 mi · 4 min · State Highway 83

  12. 12

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    30 m · 6 sec · State Highway 83

  13. 13

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    1.3 km · 1 min · State Highway 83

  14. 14

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    31 m · 6 sec · State Highway 83

  15. 15

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    1.8 mi · 3 min · State Highway 83

  16. 16

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    39 m · 8 sec · State Highway 83

  17. 17

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    2.6 mi · 6 min · State Highway 83

  18. 18

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 83

    41 m · 8 sec · State Highway 83

  19. 19

    Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 83

    1568 ft · 30 sec · State Highway 83

  20. 20

    Continue on South Wales Road

    1.4 mi · 3 min · South Wales Road

  21. 21

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward West Summit Avenue

    54 m · 10 sec · West Summit Avenue

  22. 22

    Exit the roundabout onto West Summit Avenue

    565 ft · 14 sec · West Summit Avenue

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward West Summit Avenue

    21 m · 4 sec · West Summit Avenue

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto West Summit Avenue

    125 m · 10 sec · West Summit Avenue

  25. 25

    Continue on US Highway 18

    1.4 km · 1 min · US Highway 18

  26. 26

    Turn right onto County Highway C

    2.8 mi · 5 min · County Highway C

  27. 27

    Take the ramp left toward I 94 West

    1824 ft · 45 sec

  28. 28

    Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

    44.8 mi · 48 min · East-West Freeway

  29. 29

    Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

    29.1 mi · 31 min

  30. 30

    Keep slight left

    63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min

  31. 31

    Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse

    42.1 mi · 45 min

  32. 32

    Take the exit slight right toward US 53 South, WI 35: La Crosse, Onalaska

    1291 ft · 37 sec

  33. 33

    Turn left onto Rose Street

    1.6 mi · 3 min · Rose Street

  34. 34

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · Rose Street

Car Route Details

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

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
34 steps
18 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
15
1 merges, 14 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
16.5 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 39 North
92.6 mi · 45%
East-West Freeway
44.8 mi · 22%
I 90 West
42.1 mi · 20%
State Highway 83
8.76 mi · 4%
Northwest Highway
5.92 mi · 3%
South Rochester Street
3.34 mi · 2%
Longest Stretch

I 39 North

Keep slight left

63.5 mi · 01h 08m

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
03h 20m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 42m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+36.2 mi
170.1 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Portage
01h 40m from Rochester
Leave By
10:18 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Showers And Thunderstorms leaving Rochester and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Rain And Snow Showers near North La Crosse.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

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

The road trip is about 206.3 miles (332 km) and usually takes 03h 20m 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?

Portage is a useful midpoint, sitting about 103.6 miles from Rochester and 102.7 miles from North La Crosse.

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

The direct path is about 170.1 miles (273.8 km), while the road route adds roughly 36.2 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 10:18 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $27.45 one way or $54.91 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 64.7 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Showers And Thunderstorms around Rochester and Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Chance Rain And Snow Showers near North La Crosse.

Stop Ideas Near Portage

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

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Portage, 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 Portage.

RAIL

Portage

1 mi away
400 West Oneida Street
RAIL

Wisconsin Dells

27 mi away
Superior and La Crosse Sts.
BUS

Westfield, WI

39 mi away
244 North Pioneer Park Road
RAIL

Columbus

43 mi away
359 North Ludington Street

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Rochester and North La Crosse. Straight-line distance: 170.14 mi (273.82 km).

Rochester

#1 Rochester

Village in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States

Population3,880
Coordinates42.7414100, -88.2242600
Altitude234
CountryUnited States
Photo coming soon

#2 North La Crosse

A city in La Crosse County, Wisconsin.

Population50,470
Coordinates43.8463500, -91.2481900
Altitude197
CountryUnited States
Start: West Main Street (-88.224257, 42.741255)
End: Rose Street (-91.248268, 43.846348)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 332 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)06h 52m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)05h 09m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)04h 07m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)03h 26m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 56m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 34m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
7.28 gal
27.56 L · about $27.45
Round trip
$54.91
14.56 gal · 55.12 L
Estimated CO2
64.7 kg one way
Round trip: 129.4 kg / 285 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $27.45 $54.91
Mid-grade $4.25 $30.96 $61.92
Premium $4.65 $33.88 $67.76
Diesel $5.30 $38.61 $77.23

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 Rochester and North La Crosse. The current time is 09:56:50.

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.