Trip from Dale, WI to Kenosha, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 54m

Distance

145.6 mi

234 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$23

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 33 min

4 AM

2h 44m ★

6 AM

2h 55m

8 AM

3h 17m

10 AM

3h 3m

12 PM

3h 0m

3 PM

3h 4m

5 PM

3h 16m

8 PM

2h 48m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Dale, WI

Tom Fisk

city in and county seat of Kenosha County, Wisconsin and part of the Chicago metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland

Kenosha, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Embark on a straightforward 145.6-mile journey from Dale, Wisconsin, to Kenosha, Wisconsin, with an estimated drive time of 2 hours and 54 minutes. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, allowing ample time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Expect a fuel cost of around $23 for this drive. The majority of your travel, 91% of it, will be on highways, making it a focused and efficient transit through the Midwest. This is a practical drive designed for getting from point A to point B with minimal fuss.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

72.8 miles from Dale, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 24m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 41	87.4 mi	1h 38m
North-South Freeway	23.3 mi	25m
US 45	12.3 mi	14m
US Highway 45	5.9 mi	7m
Airport Freeway	4.3 mi	5m
Burlington Road	3.6 mi	6m
Washington Road	3.3 mi	7m
Wisconsin Avenue	2.3 mi	3m

Longest stretch: I 41 — 87.4 mi, about 1h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Dale, WI and Kenosha, WI.

Start on Depot Road

13 ft · 6 sec · Depot Road

Turn left onto WI 96

0.7 mi · 1 min · State Road 96

Continue on WI 96

2.3 mi · 3 min · Wisconsin Avenue

Enter roundabout onto US 45

229 ft · 13 sec · US Highway 45

Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

Continue on US 45

5.9 mi · 7 min · US Highway 45

Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh Use the straight lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

12 mi · 14 min · US 45

Exit 276 Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min

Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee

Merge onto I 41; US 41

86 mi · 1 hr 36 min · I 41; US 41

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 41; US 41

Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

23 mi · 25 min · North-South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

199 ft · 6 sec

Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha

Turn left onto WI 142

3.6 mi · 6 min · Burlington Road

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CTH S

3.3 mi · 7 min · Washington Road

Turn right onto WI 32

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Road

Turn left onto 54th Street

305 ft · 14 sec · 54th Street

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · 8th Avenue

Turn right onto 56th Street

43 ft · 1 sec · 56th Street

Arrive at destination

56th Street

Trip Plan

With a duration of under three hours, this trip from Dale to Kenosha is easily manageable in one day. Consider an early morning departure to maximize your time at your destination and avoid any potential rush hour traffic. You'll encounter one recommended stop, which should be sufficient for a break on this relatively short drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 87.4-mile stretch on I-41, to ensure you have enough to reach your destination comfortably or a convenient exit for refueling.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.

Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.

The halfway point lands around 72.8 miles from Dale, WI, or about 1h 24m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.4 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 32 miles or 38m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 72.8 miles or 1h 24m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenosha, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Dale, 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 Dale, WI

This is one driving day of about 145.6 miles and 2h 54m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 32 miles from Dale, 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 41 for about 87.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

village in Waukesha County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Menomonee Falls, WI

73 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.

Popular next leg

Menomonee Falls, WI to Kenosha, WI

55 mi · 1h 15m

Pacing Suggestions

Black Wolf, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 32 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Germantown, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 72.8 miles from Dale, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break · home stretch

BLAK Coffee Kenosha

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

East View Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kenosha, Wisconsin

0.1 mi

Blüm Coffee Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Greenfield, Wisconsin

2.2 mi

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. | Bay View

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~10 min detour

Final third 3.9 mi from route ~10 min detour $1 to $10

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+14144890765

Visit website

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, short detour

Final third 3.1 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14149888018

Visit website

Summer Moon Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour Inexpensiv

Kenosha, Wisconsin

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Later in the drive, ~11 min detour

Final third 4.5 mi from route ~11 min detour

Franklin, Wisconsin

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+14147452760

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 3 and 137.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

3 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 45 / US Highway 45

Enter roundabout onto US 45 / US Highway 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

Roundabout - know your exit number before entering

Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

8.9 mi into trip | ~12m in | US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 276 Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

112.8 mi into trip | ~2h 10m in | I 41; US 41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

137.4 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in

Take the exit toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington

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 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington

137.6 mi into trip | ~2h 38m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, K...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.76 one way

$45.53 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 51 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$24.99	$49.99
premium	$4.89	$28.02	$56.04
diesel	$5.61	$32.15	$64.29

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$23

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$48–$73

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 50.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	43.7	$15.29	$6.99
Efficient EV	36.4	$12.74	$5.82
EV Truck/SUV	58.2	$20.38	$9.32

Gas CO2

51 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (67% 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.

Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026

Origin

Dale, WI

Late night in Dale on Tuesday

Local time

5:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

25°F

Clear

E 3 mph 0% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT until April 20 at 11:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 19 at 10:08PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Kenosha, WI

Late night in Kenosha on Tuesday

Local time

5:20 AM

CDT

Current temp

57°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

32 degrees warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

2h 54m 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 drive is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 91% of the route utilizing major freeways. You'll spend a significant portion of your time on I-41, North-South Freeway, and US-45, offering a consistent and high-speed travel experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 87.4 miles, so be prepared for extended periods of highway driving. While not a scenic tour, it’s a reliable path for covering distance efficiently.

91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 87.4 mi on I 41.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3 miles in near US 45 / US Highway 45.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 145.6 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 3 miles (US 45 / US Highway 45): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 8.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 112.8 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Dale, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Cth S: Kenosha, Burlington and Cth S East: Gateway Technical College.

Cth S: Kenosha

137.4 mi in | ~2h 38m

Burlington

137.4 mi in | ~2h 38m

Cth S East: Gateway Technical College

137.6 mi in | ~2h 38m

About the Cities

Arriving in Kenosha, WI

Full guide →

Kenosha is Wisconsin's fourth largest city. It is in the state's southeast region. Many of its residents commute to jobs elsewhere, leading to its appellation as "Chicago's northernmost suburb."

City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 54m. Total distance: 145.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 87.4 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 13 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 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 Kenosha, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kenosha, 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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Explore more options from Dale, WI or browse trips ending in Kenosha, WI.

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Trip from Dale, WI to Kenosha, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

BLAK Coffee Kenosha

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. | Bay View

BLAK Coffee Kenosha

East View Coffee Roasters

Blüm Coffee Garden

Vendetta Coffee Bar

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

Summer Moon Coffee

Lomira Rest Area 63

Petro Stopping Centers

Kenosha Truck Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Love's Travel Stop

Theresa Rest Area 64

64

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Love's Travel Stop

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Franklin Woods Nature Center Pavilion

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Dale, WI

Kenosha, WI

Same local time

32 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 54m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Arriving in Kenosha, WI

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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