Rhinelander, WI Road Trips

With 3 routes heading out and 4 heading in, Rhinelander, WI works well as a modest departure point in the Midwest. The route mix is balanced, with options ranging from 202-mile quick runs to 245-mile cross-state drives. Most routes from Rhinelander, WI head south, giving the route network a clear directional lean.

Photo: Tom Fisk

Trip Routes

7

Longest Drive

269.3 mi

Racine, WI

Quickest Drive

4h 24m

City of Janesville, WI

Plan Around Rhinelander, WI

Popular Incoming Routes

Useful if Rhinelander, WI is the arrival point and you want the strongest routes into the city first.

Racine, WI to Rhinelander, WI 269.3 mi · 5h 24m Oak Creek, WI to Rhinelander, WI 256.9 mi · 5h 6m Milwaukee, WI to Rhinelander, WI 245.3 mi · 4h 48m Wauwatosa, WI to Rhinelander, WI 238.7 mi · 4h 39m

Continue From Rhinelander, WI

Good next legs if this city is only one stop in a longer road trip.

Rhinelander, WI to New Berlin, WI 244.8 mi · 4h 49m Rhinelander, WI to City of Janesville, WI 231.9 mi · 4h 24m Rhinelander, WI to La Crosse, WI 202 mi · 4h 25m

Trips from Rhinelander, WI

Rhinelander, WI to New Berlin, WI

244.8 mi 4h 49m

Rhinelander, WI to City of Janesville, WI

231.9 mi 4h 24m

Rhinelander, WI to La Crosse, WI

202 mi 4h 25m

Driving from Rhinelander, WI

On average, trips departing from Rhinelander, WI run 226 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 33m. There is a healthy spread of short hops, medium drives, and longer road trips to pick from. The longest mapped route runs 245 miles (4h 49m), while the shortest is just 202 miles.

Popular Destinations

Drivers leaving Rhinelander, WI most often head toward New Berlin, WI (244.8 mi, 4h 49m), City of Janesville, WI (231.9 mi, 4h 24m), and La Crosse, WI (202 mi, 4h 25m). Most destinations stay within the same state, perfect for exploring the local region thoroughly.

Planning & Costs

For the average 226-mile drive from Rhinelander, WI, expect to burn about 8.9 gallons of fuel one way at 25 MPG. Check local pump prices before you go to lock in your budget.

Most trips take a half-day, so a morning start gets you there in time for lunch or an afternoon of exploring. The majority of destinations are to the south. Morning starts help you avoid the midday heat on longer drives.

Frequently Asked Questions

There are 3 mapped routes leaving Rhinelander, WI and 4 routes heading into Rhinelander, WI, covering 7 total connections. Distances range from 202 to 245 miles.

The longest mapped route from Rhinelander, WI covers 245 miles and takes approximately 4h 49m. Shorter options start at just 202 miles.

The average route from Rhinelander, WI runs about 226 miles with a drive time of roughly 4h 33m. This includes both short day trips and longer multi-day drives.

The most popular road trip destinations from Rhinelander, WI include New Berlin, WI, City of Janesville, WI and La Crosse, WI. Each route page has detailed drive times, fuel estimates, stop suggestions, and turn-by-turn directions.

Rhinelander, WI by the Numbers

Recent demographic snapshot from the US Census Bureau's American Community Survey.

Population

8,248

Median Income

$53,561

Median Home Value

$123,300

Median Age

38.9

Source: US Census Bureau ACS 5-year (public domain). See our methodology for details.

Notable People from Rhinelander, WI

A sampling of people born in Rhinelander, WI.

Dale Wasserman

1914–2008

American playwright (1914–2008)

Justin Orvel Schmidt

1947–2023

American entomologist

Joan Valerie

1911–1983

American actress (1911-1983)

Craig Ludwig

1961

American ice hockey player

Rob Nilsson

1939

American film director

T. V. Olsen

1932–1993

American writer (1932-1993)

Rita Gross

1943–2015

American theologian (1943–2015)

John Kotz

1919–1999

American basketball player (1919–1999)

Lois Kibbee

1922–1993

American actress (1922-1993)

Landmarks & Historic Sites

Attractions and heritage-registered places located in Rhinelander, WI.

Oneida County Courthouse

county courthouse in Rhinelander, Wisconsin

listed in the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places National Register of Historic Places listed place

First National Bank

historic bank building in Rhinelander, Wisconsin, United States

National Register of Historic Places listed place listed in the Wisconsin State Register of Historic Places

Traveler Guide to Rhinelander, WI

Rhinelander is a town in North Central Wisconsin that is a commercial, industrial, and recreation hub for the Northwoods area of Wisconsin. Because of the forests, lakes, and trails in the area, it is both a summer and winter vacation destination. Its population was 8,300 in 2020.

The Rhinelander area has numerous vacation destinations, offering fishing, boating, canoeing, kayaking, ATVing, mountain biking and hiking, hunting, golfing, cross country skiing and snowshoeing, snowmobiling, and bird watching. It also serves as a main shopping and lodging area for the Northwoods. Rhinelander is the home of the hodag, a folkloric green and white creature said to stalk the local woods.

1 Pioneer Park Historical Complex, Oneida Ave at Kemp St (in Pioneer Park), ☏ +1 715 369-5004. Memorial Day-Labor Day: Tu-Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM; weekends in September: Sa 10AM-5PM, Su noon-4PM. A logging museum, the famous “5 Spot” Logging Train, a replica of an 1870s logging camp, an old school building and a Soo Line railroad depot from the 1890s. By donation. (updated May 2023) 2 Wisconsin Hockey Hall of Fame, 4149 Hwy 70 E, inside Eagle River Arena, Eagle River (24 mi N on Route 17). daily 9AM-5PM. Dedicated to amateur ice hockey in the state of Wisconsin. Free. (updated Aug 2015)

Eagle River is a 24-mi (38-km) drive away and offers many different options for lodging on and around its chain of lakes. The Eagle River section of the Eagle River-Three Lakes chain of lakes features 10 interconnected lakes. The city also boasts a charming downtown.

Traveling north and south, Rhinelander can be reached via State Highway 17 and State Highway 47, and traveling east and west, Rhinelander can be reached by US Highway 8. Rhinelander can be reached from Minneapolis and Milwaukee in about 5 hours and from Chicago in about 6 hours. Rhinelander-Oneida County Airport (RHI), two miles (3 km) southwest of Rhinelander, provides daily service from Minneapolis (Delta Air Lines).

Travel by car is necessary to explore Rhinelander and the Northwoods of Wisconsin. There is no public transit system in the Rhinelander area. Roads are well maintained and marked. Ample, free, at-door parking is readily available. Downtown, parking is easy to find and very inexpensive.

Travel tips adapted from Rhinelander on Wikivoyage, licensed CC BY-SA 4.0. Content summarized; visit the source for the full article. See our methodology for how we use it.