If you are planning a trip from De Forest to Kenosha, expect a journey covering 119.3 miles that typically takes about two hours and one minute. This Midwestern route is ideal for a single-day excursion, as it does not require an overnight stay to manage the distance comfortably. You will navigate via a combination of Lake Road, Highway 19, and I-39 South to reach your destination. Budgeting approximately $18 for fuel should cover your travel costs for this trek. Because this route is designed as a direct, turn-heavy local drive, it is best suited for travelers who prefer a hands-on experience behind the wheel rather than a simple highway cruise.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
58.6 miles from De Forest, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 7m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
64.2 mi
1h 9m
North-South Freeway
23.3 mi
25m
I 39
6.3 mi
6m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Zoo Freeway
4 mi
5m
Burlington Road
3.6 mi
6m
Washington Road
3.3 mi
7m
Lake Road
3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between De Forest, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on CTH CV
0.6 mi·1 min·North Main Street
2
Continue on CTH CV
3.0 mi·5 min·Lake Road
3
Turn straight
208 ft·9 sec
4
Turn slight right onto WI 19
0.2 mi·23 sec·State Highway 19
5
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: MadisonUse the left lane.
6
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
6.3 mi·6 min·I 39; I 90; I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
10
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·30 sec·this road
Exit 305AToward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
12
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
4.0 mi·5 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
1.3 mi·1 min·I 41; US 41
Exit 10BToward I 41 South, I 94 South: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
23 mi·25 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 340Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
18
Turn left onto WI 142
3.6 mi·6 min·Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on CTH S
3.3 mi·7 min·Washington Road
20
Turn right onto WI 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Road
21
Turn left onto 54th Street
305 ft·14 sec·54th Street
22
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·8th Avenue
23
Turn right onto 56th Street
43 ft·1 sec·56th Street
24
Arrive at destination
56th Street
Trip Plan
For the smoothest experience, plan your departure to account for the turn-heavy nature of the local roads, which can be more taxing than a standard interstate drive. Since the entire 119.3-mile trip is manageable in one go, you have the flexibility to leave whenever it best suits your schedule without needing to worry about mid-trip rest stops. Keep your $18 fuel budget in mind, and ensure your vehicle is ready for a drive that relies entirely on local roads rather than highway travel. A helpful tip for this specific route is to double-check your navigation before setting off, as the reliance on Lake Road and Highway 19 means you will encounter frequent turns that require careful attention to signage.
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.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 58.6 miles from De Forest, WI, or about 1h 7m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 26 miles or 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 58.6 miles or 1h 7m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 52m
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 De Forest, 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 De Forest, WI
This is one driving day of about 117.3 miles and 2h 23m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 26 miles from De Forest, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 64.2 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.8 and 84.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
3.8 mi into trip|~7m in
Turn left toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madison
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madiso...
8
10.6 mi into trip|~15m 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
8
74.8 mi into trip|~1h 24m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
8
75.4 mi into trip|~1h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US...
9
84.5 mi into trip|~1h 38m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$18.34 one way
$36.68 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg41 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$20.13
$40.27
premium
$4.89
$22.57
$45.15
diesel
$5.61
$25.90
$51.80
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$18
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$43–$68
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 41 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
35.2
0
$12.32
$5.63
Efficient EV
29.3
0
$10.26
$4.69
EV Truck/SUV
46.9
0
$16.42
$7.51
Gas CO2
41 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (66% 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
De Forest, WI
Morning
in De Forest on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kenosha, WI
Morning
in Kenosha on Tuesday
Local time
7:22 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
5 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
2h 23m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a more engaging experience on this route, as it is classified as a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate haul. With a highway share of 0%, you will spend your time navigating local roads and varied intersections rather than cruising on high-speed expressways. This layout requires your full attention, as the road profile demands more active steering and frequent adjustments. Since there are no designated stops scheduled along the way, you should prepare for a consistent two-hour drive that keeps you focused on the road ahead. The path offers a distinct change of pace compared to standard highway transit, making it a drive that prioritizes local navigation over speed.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 64.2 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.8 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 117.3 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 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 De Forest, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Cth S: Kenosha, Burlington and Cth S East: Gateway Technical College.
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."
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 23m. Total distance: 117.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 23m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 94. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.8 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 10.6 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Kenosha, WI before heading back.
