Origin
Clinton, WI
Late night in Clinton on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
69°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Clinton, WI to Milwaukee, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 18m
Distance
66.3 mi
107 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$10
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 12m
★
6 AM
1h 19m
8 AM
1h 31m
10 AM
1h 23m
12 PM
1h 22m
3 PM
1h 24m
5 PM
1h 30m
8 PM
1h 15m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Clinton, WI
Tom Fisk
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are looking for a quick and straightforward transit across Wisconsin, the 66.3-mile trip from Clinton to Milwaukee is a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion. You can expect to complete this journey in about 1 hour and 18 minutes, making it highly efficient for a direct commute or a brief weekend getaway. With a fuel budget of approximately $10, it is an economical choice for travelers moving through the Midwest. Because this route is entirely contained within the state of Wisconsin, you will experience a consistent regional feel from start to finish. It is best handled as a single-day trip, as the short duration rarely necessitates an overnight stay. Whether you are heading into the city for business or leisure, this drive offers a reliable and uncomplicated path.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 53.2 mi | 57m |
| East-West Freeway | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Church Street | 0.6 mi | 1m |
| US 45 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| North Milwaukee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| South State Highway 140 | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| South State Road 140 | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 53.2 mi, about 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Clinton, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on CTH J; CTH X
21 ft
·
3 sec
·
Milwaukee Street
2
Turn right onto WI 140
0.6 mi
·
1 min
·
Church Street
3
Continue on WI 140
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
South State Highway 140
4
Continue on WI 140
0.1 mi
·
15 sec
·
South State Road 140
5
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
50 sec
6
Merge onto I 43
53 mi
·
57 min
·
I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
8
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 94
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East-West Freeway
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
15
Turn slight right
309 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Jackson Street South
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Saint Paul Avenue
17
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
33 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 15 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 33.2 miles from Clinton, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 145 decision points cluster between mile 54.5 and 64.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
54.5 mi into trip
|
~1h in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
8
58.8 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
58.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 6m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
6
59.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 7m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
64.7 mi into trip
|
~1h 15m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$10.37 one way
$20.73 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
23 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $11.38 | $22.76 |
| premium | $4.89 | $12.76 | $25.52 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $14.64 | $29.28 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$10
Estimated CO2 emission: 23.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $7 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 19.9 | 0 | $6.96 | $3.18 |
| Efficient EV | 16.6 | 0 | $5.80 | $2.65 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 26.5 | 0 | $9.28 | $4.24 |
Gas CO2
23 kg
EV CO2
8 kg (65% 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Late night in Milwaukee on Sunday
Local time
5:10 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Cloudy
W 15 mph
10% chance
Live forecast
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
28 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
1h 18m on the road
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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is almost exclusively a highway-focused drive, with 95% of your travel time spent on major thoroughfares. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-43, which accounts for a significant 53.2-mile stretch of the journey. As you approach your destination, the path transitions onto the East-West Freeway and the Zoo Freeway to navigate the urban landscape. Do not expect technical local roads or winding scenic byways here; instead, anticipate a steady, high-speed pace that prioritizes efficiency over exploration. Behind the wheel, you will find this to be a classic interstate experience characterized by consistent highway speeds and clear, well-marked signage.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 53.2 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and East-West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 54.5 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort
10/10
Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 66.3 miles you will encounter 14 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 54.5 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Clinton, WI to Milwaukee, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Madison along the way.
Madison
54.5 mi in
|
~1h
|
via US 45
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 18m. Total distance: 66.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 53.2 miles on I 43. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. 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.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 54.5 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 58.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milwaukee, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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