Origin
Dunkirk, WI
Night in Dunkirk on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Dunkirk, WI to Kenosha, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
2h 11m
Distance
96 mi
155 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$15
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 2m
★
6 AM
2h 11m
8 AM
2h 30m
10 AM
2h 18m
12 PM
2h 16m
3 PM
2h 19m
5 PM
2h 29m
8 PM
2h 6m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Dunkirk, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Kenosha, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This 96-mile drive from Dunkirk, WI to Kenosha, WI is a manageable 2-hour, 11-minute trip, perfect for a single-day adventure. Primarily utilizing I-39 and State Highway 50, you'll spend about 74% of your journey on the highway. With an estimated fuel cost of $15, this is an economical option for exploring the Midwest. The route is straightforward, making it an easy decision if you're looking for a convenient drive without the need for an overnight stop. It offers a practical way to travel between these two Wisconsin locations.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
48 miles from Dunkirk, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 39 | 14 mi | 15m |
| 75th Street | 13.9 mi | 21m |
| State Highway 50 | 12.8 mi | 18m |
| I 43 | 11.7 mi | 12m |
| WI 11 | 11.2 mi | 15m |
| US 12 | 7.7 mi | 8m |
| US Highway 51 | 5.5 mi | 7m |
| US 51 | 4.8 mi | 5m |
Longest stretch:
I 39
— 14 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Dunkirk, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on CTH N
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
County Road N
2
Continue on CTH N
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
Veterans Road
3
Turn right onto US 51
5.5 mi
·
7 min
·
US Highway 51
4
Take the ramp onto US 51
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 51
5
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51
4.6 mi
·
5 min
·
US 51
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, US 51 South: Janesville
6
Continue on I 39; I 90
14 mi
·
15 min
·
I 39; I 90
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
Exit 175
Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
8
Keep slight left at fork
518 ft
·
13 sec
9
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
297 ft
·
16 sec
·
East Racine Street
10
Continue on WI 11
0.1 mi
·
12 sec
·
East Racine Street
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 11
112 ft
·
6 sec
·
East Racine Street
12
Continue on WI 11
1.3 mi
·
2 min
·
East Racine Street
13
Turn straight onto WI 11
11 mi
·
15 min
·
WI 11
14
Continue on US 14
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
US 14
15
Turn left
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
16
Merge onto I 43
12 mi
·
12 min
·
I 43
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 27A
Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
55 sec
19
Merge onto US 12
7.7 mi
·
8 min
·
US 12
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
48 sec
Exit 330B
Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Use the right lane.
21
Continue on WI 50; WI 120
10 mi
·
14 min
·
State Highway 50
Use the straight lane.
22
Continue on WI 50; WI 83
2.3 mi
·
3 min
·
Geneva Road
Use the straight lane.
23
Continue on WI 50
14 mi
·
21 min
·
75th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Continue on WI 50
2.5 mi
·
4 min
·
State Highway 50
25
Continue on WI 50
355 ft
·
8 sec
·
State Highway 50
26
Continue on WI 50
1.2 mi
·
2 min
·
Roosevelt Road
27
Continue on WI 50
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
63rd Street
28
Turn left onto WI 32
0.4 mi
·
42 sec
·
Sheridan Road
29
Turn right onto 57th Street
307 ft
·
18 sec
·
57th Street
30
Turn left onto 8th Avenue
266 ft
·
11 sec
·
8th Avenue
31
Turn left onto 56th Street
109 ft
·
9 sec
·
56th Street
32
Arrive at destination
56th Street
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short 2-hour, 11-minute duration and 96-mile distance, this trip offers great flexibility. You can depart Dunkirk, WI at your leisure, perhaps after a relaxed morning. With no designated stops, plan your own breaks as needed, keeping in mind the $15 fuel cost is budget-friendly. A good tip for this route is to pay attention to the transition from I-39 to State Highway 50, as this is where the driving environment might change. Being aware of this shift can help you adjust your speed and expectations as you approach Kenosha.
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 48 miles from Dunkirk, WI, or about 1h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 14 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 21 miles or 28m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 48 miles or 1h 3m 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 42m
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 Dunkirk, 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 Dunkirk, WI
This is one driving day of about 96 miles and 2h 11m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 21 miles from Dunkirk, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 39 for about 14 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
48 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 21 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 48 miles from Dunkirk, 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 165 decision points cluster between mile 8.4 and 64.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
8.4 mi into trip
|
~14m in
|
US 51
Keep slight right at fork onto US 51 toward I 39 South, I 90 East, US 51 South: Janesville
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, US 51 South: Jane...
5
27 mi into trip
|
~34m in
Take the exit toward WI 11 East: Delavan
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 175
Toward WI 11 East: Delavan
6
27.3 mi into trip
|
~35m in
|
WI 11 / East Racine Street
Enter roundabout onto WI 11 / East Racine Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
7
55.6 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Take the exit toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 27A
Toward US 12 East: Lake Geneva
7
64.3 mi into trip
|
~1h 21m in
Take the exit toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 330B
Toward WI 50 East: Kenosha
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.01 one way
$30.02 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
34 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $16.48 | $32.96 |
| premium | $4.89 | $18.47 | $36.95 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $21.20 | $42.39 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 33.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 28.8 | 0 | $10.08 | $4.61 |
| Efficient EV | 24 | 0 | $8.40 | $3.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 38.4 | 0 | $13.44 | $6.14 |
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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
Kenosha, WI
Night in Kenosha on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 5 to 10 mph
33% chance
Live forecast
47°F
Burlington, WI
48 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
13 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 11m 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?
Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 96-mile route, with 74% of your travel on interstates and state highways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 14 miles on I-39, offering a consistent pace. You'll transition from I-39 to 75th Street and then onto State Highway 50, providing a mix of faster highway speeds and potentially more local road conditions as you near your destination. This profile suggests a drive where efficiency is prioritized.
74% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 14 mi on I 39.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 39 and 75th Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 8.4 miles in near US 51.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 16 significant decision points across 96 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 8.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.3 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 11m. Total distance: 96 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (74%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 14 miles on I 39. 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 8.4 miles (US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 27 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 27.3 miles (WI 11 / East Racine Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
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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