De Pere to Hudson is 256 miles and takes about 4 hours 54 minutes via WI 29 and I-94, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, traversing Wisconsin for its entirety. With a highway share of 98%, expect a straightforward drive primarily on major arteries. This route is a solid option for a single-day trip, offering efficient travel between the two Wisconsin locales. It's a practical choice if you're looking to cover ground quickly without significant detours.
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
128.1 miles from De Pere, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
WI 29
163.3 mi
3h 7m
I 94
51.2 mi
54m
US 45
30.4 mi
35m
I 41
4.7 mi
5m
WI 32 North
2.9 mi
3m
Main Avenue
1.4 mi
3m
Second Street South
0.7 mi
1m
South Broadway
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
WI 29
— 163.3 mi, about 3h 7m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 40 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,967 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,589
Quietest
2 AM
~167 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
11.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 De Pere, WI and Hudson, WI.
1
Start on WI 57
460 ft·7 sec·South Broadway
2
Enter roundabout onto WI 32
19 ft·0 sec·Main Avenue
3
Continue on WI 32
1.4 mi·3 min·Main Avenue
4
Enter roundabout onto West Main Avenue
92 ft·2 sec·West Main Avenue
5
Continue on West Main Avenue
120 ft·2 sec·West Main Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·45 sec
7
Merge onto I 41; US 41
4.7 mi·5 min·I 41; US 41
8
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 168B; 168CToward I 41 North, WI 29 North, WI 32 North: Wausau
9
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 32 North
2.9 mi·3 min·WI 32 North
Toward WI 29 West, WI 32 North: Wausau
10
Continue on WI 29; WI 32
14 mi·15 min·WI 29; WI 32
11
Continue on WI 29; WI 55
7.7 mi·8 min·WI 29; WI 55
12
Continue on WI 29; WI 47; WI 55
36 mi·41 min·WI 29; WI 47; WI 55
13
Continue on US 45; WI 29
30 mi·35 min·US 45; WI 29
14
Take the exit onto WI 29
106 mi·2 hr·WI 29
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa FallsUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Take the exit
0.4 mi·1 min
16
Merge onto I 94
51 mi·54 min·I 94
Use the slight right lane.
17
Take the exit
0.2 mi·25 sec
Exit 1Toward WI 35 North, I 94 Alternate: HudsonUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on WI 35
0.7 mi·1 min·Second Street South
Use the straight lane.
19
Arrive at destination
WI 35
Trip Plan
Given this is a single-day drive of under 5 hours, consider leaving mid-morning to avoid early rush hour and allow for flexibility. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type is 163.3 miles on WI 29, so plan a break before or after this segment. With a fuel cost estimated at $35, it's wise to fill up before you leave or at a major exit along I-94. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as services can be more spread out on rural highway sections.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 128.1 miles from De Pere, WI, or about 2h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 163.3 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 56 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 128.1 miles or 2h 29m 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 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Hudson, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving De Pere, 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 Pere, WI
This is one driving day of about 256.3 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from De Pere, 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 WI 29 for about 163.3 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 0.1 and 255.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip|~0m in|WI 32 / Main Avenue
Enter roundabout onto WI 32 / Main Avenue
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
6.5 mi into trip|~9m in
Take the exit toward I 41 North, WI 29 North, WI 32 North: Wausau
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 168B; 168C
Toward I 41 North, WI 29 North, WI 32 North: Wa...
6
7.2 mi into trip|~10m in|WI 32 North
Keep slight right at fork onto WI 32 North toward WI 29 West, WI 32 North: Wausau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward WI 29 West, WI 32 North: Wausau
7
98.2 mi into trip|~1h 55m in|WI 29
Take the exit onto WI 29 toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 29 West: Abbotsford, Chippewa Falls
8
255.4 mi into trip|~4h 52m in
Take the exit toward WI 35 North, I 94 Alternate: Hudson
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 1
Toward WI 35 North, I 94 Alternate: Hudson
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.85 one way
$75.70 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg90 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$41.78
$83.57
premium
$4.72
$47.59
$95.17
diesel
$4.80
$48.39
$96.79
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$38
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$63–$88
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.9
0
$26.91
$12.30
Efficient EV
64.1
0
$22.43
$10.25
EV Truck/SUV
102.5
1
$35.88
$16.40
Gas CO2
90 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
De Pere, WI
Afternoon
in De Pere on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Smoke
E 2 mph16% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:04AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:55AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Hudson, WI
Afternoon
in Hudson on Sunday
Local time
12:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
71°F
Patchy Fog
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:04AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:55AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
81°F
Medford, WI
128 mi in
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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 54m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway, with 98% of the 256.3 miles on major roads like WI 29 and I-94. You'll experience a long stretch of 163.3 miles on WI 29 before transitioning. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you navigate these high-speed corridors. The bulk of your driving will be on these well-maintained highways, making for a consistent pace.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
19 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 163.3 mi on WI 29.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on WI 29 and I 94. You will hit about 10 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near WI 32 / Main Avenue.
Driving Effort6/10
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 256.3 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 0.1 miles (WI 32 / Main Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles (WI 32 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,380 ft610 ft
Total Climb
984 ft
Total Descent
881 ft
Highest Point
1,380 ft
~128.1 mi in
Elevation Range
770 ft
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 De Pere, WI to Hudson, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Chippewa Falls along the way.
Chippewa Falls
98.2 mi in|~1h 55m|via WI 29
Detours Along the Way
Tagged by where each one fits in your drive — first break, midpoint, final stretch.
Hudson is a city in the St. Croix Valley of northwestern Wisconsin. It sits along the St. Croix River, which is also the Minnesota border, and is adjacent to and sometimes considered a part of that state's Twin Cities region.
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 54m. Total distance: 256.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 54m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 163.3 miles on WI 29. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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 Hudson, 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 12 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (WI 32 / Main Avenue): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 7.2 miles (WI 32 North): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Hudson, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
