This 317.7-mile drive from Amery to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, is designed as a straightforward, one-day journey, taking approximately 6 hours to complete. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with a substantial 97% of the route being on interstates, primarily I-94. With an estimated fuel cost of around $50, it's an economical trip within the Midwest. This highway-focused profile makes it a practical option for getting from point A to point B efficiently, rather than a route focused on sightseeing along the way.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
158.9 miles from Amery, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
289.5 mi
5h 13m
US Highway 63
14.1 mi
21m
Keller Avenue South
8.2 mi
14m
State Highway 46
3.2 mi
5m
East-West Freeway
1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.7 mi
1m
North Milwaukee Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 289.5 mi, about 5h 13m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 148 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,918 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,488
Quietest
2 AM
~192 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
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 Amery, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on WI 46; CTH F
8.2 mi·14 min·Keller Avenue South
2
Continue on WI 46
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Continue on WI 46
3.2 mi·5 min·State Highway 46
4
Enter roundabout onto US 63
143 ft·8 sec·US Highway 63
Toward US 63 Southbound, Baldwin
5
Continue on US 63
14 mi·21 min·US Highway 63
Toward US 63 Southbound, Baldwin
6
Turn left
0.4 mi·28 sec
7
Merge onto I 94
219 mi·3 hr 54 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi·1 min·East-West Freeway
Exit 310CToward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 1EToward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
11
Turn slight right
309 ft·14 sec
Toward Jackson Street SouthUse the right lane.
12
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Saint Paul Avenue
13
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Milwaukee Street
14
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, this route is comfortably manageable as a single-day trip. Aim to depart in the morning to allow ample time and avoid potential evening traffic. With only one recommended stop and a significant portion on I-94, plan your breaks strategically. A key tip for this drive: since you'll be on I-94 for such an extended period, ensure your vehicle is in good condition before you leave, and keep an eye on your fuel levels, as services can be spaced out on longer interstate stretches.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 158.9 miles from Amery, WI, or about 3h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 289.5 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 70 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 158.9 miles or 3h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milwaukee, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Amery, 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 Amery, WI
This is one driving day of about 317.7 miles and 6h.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 70 miles from Amery, 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 94 for about 289.5 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.1 and 317 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
12.1 mi into trip|~21m in|US 63 / US Highway 63
Enter roundabout onto US 63 / US Highway 63 toward US 63 Southbound, Baldwin
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward US 63 Southbound, Baldwin
5
26.6 mi into trip|~43m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
245.4 mi into trip|~4h 38m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
9
316.1 mi into trip|~5h 57m in|I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
6
317 mi into trip|~5h 58m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$46.92 one way
$93.83 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg111 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$51.80
$103.59
premium
$4.72
$58.99
$117.97
diesel
$4.80
$59.99
$119.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 111.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
95.3
1
$33.36
$15.25
Efficient EV
79.4
0
$27.80
$12.71
EV Truck/SUV
127.1
1
$44.48
$20.33
Gas CO2
111 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Amery, WI
Evening
in Amery on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Sunny
SW 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Evening
in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
8:30 PM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Areas Of Smoke
S 5 to 10 mph21% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
2 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 186.3
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-dominant experience on this trip, with 97% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The majority of your journey will be on I-94, where you'll encounter the longest uninterrupted stretch of 289.5 miles. This means you'll be covering ground quickly, with limited opportunities for scenic detours. The route is built for efficiency, so prepare for a steady pace on well-maintained highways like US Highway 63 and Keller Avenue South as you transition.
97% 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: 289.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US Highway 63. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.1 miles in near US 63 / US Highway 63.
Driving Effort5/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 317.7 miles you will encounter 10 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles (US 63 / US Highway 63): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city celebrates its heritage as a major center for beer-brewing, and of it German and Polish communities. It is now known for its many festivals.
The city's population is about 600,000 with about 1.6 million in the metropolitan area (2019). It is in the southeastern portion of the state on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
Top landmarks
•Milwaukee Art Museum — art museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
•Milwaukee City Hall — municipal office in E. Wells St. Milwaukee, United States
•Basilica of St. Josaphat — church building in Milwaukee, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h. Total distance: 317.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (97%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 289.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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.
It helps. This is a long drive, so arriving tired and in the dark compounds. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Milwaukee, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.1 miles (US 63 / US Highway 63): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.6 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Milwaukee, WI before the return drive.
