Eagle River to Kenosha is 278 miles and takes about 6 hours 7 minutes via I 41 and US Highway 45, with a fuel budget near $43 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. The route is predominantly highway, making it a straightforward trip. It’s a good option if you need to cover a good distance in a single day without much complication.
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
139 miles from Eagle River, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 22m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
87.4 mi
1h 38m
US Highway 45
72 mi
1h 39m
US 45
64 mi
1h 28m
North-South Freeway
23.3 mi
25m
East Prospect Avenue
7.6 mi
11m
South Superior Street
5.1 mi
8m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Burlington Road
3.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 87.4 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 143 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,046 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,595
Quietest
2 AM
~198 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Eagle River, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on East Spruce Street
113 ft·6 sec·East Spruce Street
2
Turn right onto North Silver Lake Road
0.1 mi·34 sec·North Silver Lake Road
3
At end of road, turn left onto East Wall Street
0.9 mi·2 min·East Wall Street
4
Continue on US 45; WI 32
8.8 mi·12 min·US Highway 45
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Turn left onto US 45; WI 32
0.8 mi·2 min·Superior Street
6
Continue on US 45
16 mi·22 min·US Highway 45
7
Take the exit onto US 45
0.8 mi·1 min·US 45
8
Turn left onto US 45; WI 47
30 mi·43 min·US 45; WI 47
9
Turn right onto Century Avenue
0.3 mi·27 sec·Century Avenue
10
Turn left onto Clermont Street
2.0 mi·5 min·Clermont Street
11
At end of road, turn left onto 10th Avenue
499 ft·16 sec·10th Avenue
12
Turn right onto US 45; WI 47; WI 52
5.1 mi·8 min·South Superior Street
13
Continue on US 45; WI 52
4.7 mi·6 min·US 45; WI 52
14
Continue on US 45; CTH Z
14 mi·18 min·US 45; CTH Z
Use the straight lane.
15
Turn left onto US 45
2.3 mi·3 min·US 45
Use the left lane.
16
Take the exit onto US 45
0.3 mi·36 sec·US 45
Toward CTH Q, US 45 South: Clintonville
17
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
216 ft·6 sec·US 45
18
Merge onto US 45
17 mi·23 min·US Highway 45
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on US 45
7.6 mi·11 min·East Prospect Avenue
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
20
Turn right onto US 45; WI 22; CTH D
0.8 mi·2 min·South Main Street
Use the slight right lane.
21
Continue on US 45; WI 22; CTH D
24 mi·32 min·US Highway 45
Use the straight lane.
22
Enter roundabout onto US 45
110 ft·6 sec·US Highway 45
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
23
Continue on US 45
5.9 mi·7 min·US Highway 45
Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the straight lane.
24
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
12 mi·14 min·US 45
Exit 276Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
25
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
26
Merge onto I 41; US 41
86 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
28
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.
29
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
23 mi·25 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 340Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
31
Keep slight left at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
32
Turn left onto WI 142
3.6 mi·6 min·Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
33
Continue on CTH S
3.3 mi·7 min·Washington Road
34
Turn right onto WI 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Road
35
Turn left onto 54th Street
305 ft·14 sec·54th Street
36
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·8th Avenue
37
Turn right onto 56th Street
43 ft·1 sec·56th Street
38
Arrive at destination
56th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6-hour duration, leaving in the morning is your best bet to arrive with plenty of daylight. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in how you break up the drive. Keep an eye on your fuel, as the estimated cost is $43, and plan your fill-ups accordingly. Since this is a single-day trip, you can afford to be spontaneous with your timing. Watch for the transition from I 41 to US Highway 45, as this is where the highway portion of your route begins.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 139 miles from Eagle River, WI, or about 3h 22m 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 61 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139 miles or 3h 22m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 2m
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 Eagle River, 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 Eagle River, WI
This is one driving day of about 278 miles and 6h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Eagle River, 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 29
5 decision points cluster between mile 83.6 and 270.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
83.6 mi into trip|~2h 4m in|US 45
Turn left onto US 45
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
141.4 mi into trip|~3h 25m 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
9
245.2 mi into trip|~5h 23m 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
8
269.8 mi into trip|~5h 50m 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
7
270.1 mi into trip|~5h 51m 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
$41.05 one way
$82.11 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg97 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$45.32
$90.65
premium
$4.72
$51.62
$103.23
diesel
$4.80
$52.49
$104.98
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
83.4
1
$29.19
$13.34
Efficient EV
69.5
0
$24.33
$11.12
EV Truck/SUV
111.2
1
$38.92
$17.79
Gas CO2
97 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 18, 2026
Origin
Eagle River, WI
Morning
in Eagle River on Monday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
64°F
Showers And Thunderstorms Likely then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 8 mph65% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:01PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Kenosha, WI
Morning
in Kenosha on Monday
Local time
9:59 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph9% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:01PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
12 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
6h 7m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 trip is mostly highway, with 90% of the 278 miles on interstates and major US highways. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 87.4 miles on I 41, offering extended periods of consistent cruising. The highway driving will likely conclude as you approach Kenosha, transitioning to more local roads with denser exit patterns. Expect minimal time on slower, non-highway surfaces.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
38 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?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US Highway 45. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 83.6 miles in near US 45.
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 29 significant decision points across 278 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 83.6 miles (US 45): Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.2 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Gently rolling terrain
1,674 ft600 ft
Total Climb
234 ft
Total Descent
1,279 ft
Highest Point
1,674 ft
~39.7 mi in
Elevation Range
1,073 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 Eagle River, WI to Kenosha, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Cth Q along the way.
Rhinelander is a town in North Central Wisconsin that is a commercial, industrial, and recreation hub for the Northwoods area of Wisconsin. Because of the forests, lakes, and trails in the area, it is both a summer and winter vacation destination. Its population was 8,300 in 2020.
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."
Top landmarks
•Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail — prison in Kenosha, United States of America
•Kenosha Light — lighthouse in Wisconsin, United States
•Kenosha North Pier Light — lighthouse in Wisconsin, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 7m. Total distance: 278 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 7m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
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.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 83.6 miles (US 45): Lane positioning matters here; at 141.4 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 245.2 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Kenosha, WI before the return drive.
