Elk Mound, WI to New Berlin, WI is 250.7 miles and takes about 4h 35m via I 94 and US-12, with a fuel budget near $38 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Wisconsin, moving you through the Midwest. With 98% of the drive on highways, expect a straightforward trip with minimal city navigation. It's a solid one-day drive, perfect for getting from point A to point B efficiently.
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
125.3 miles from Elk Mound, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 17m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
240.5 mi
4h 17m
United States Highway 12
4.8 mi
6m
South Moorland Road
3.2 mi
6m
North Crossing
0.6 mi
1m
Menomonie Street
0.5 mi
1m
West National Avenue
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 240.5 mi, about 4h 17m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 66 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,037 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,508
Quietest
1 AM
~124 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.4×
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 Elk Mound, WI and New Berlin, WI.
1
Start on US 12
0.5 mi·1 min·Menomonie Street
2
Continue on US 12
4.8 mi·6 min·United States Highway 12
3
Turn right onto WI 312; CTH EE
0.3 mi·32 sec·North Crossing
4
Continue on WI 312; CTH EE
0.3 mi·32 sec·North Crossing
5
Turn left
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I-94_East: Madison
6
Merge onto I 94
180 mi·3 hr 12 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 301A-BToward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork
183 ft·4 sec
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New BerlinUse the right lane.
10
Turn straight onto CTH O
3.2 mi·6 min·South Moorland Road
Use the straight lane.
11
Arrive at destination
West National Avenue
Trip Plan
For this 4.5-hour drive, leaving in the morning is ideal, allowing you to arrive in New Berlin with plenty of daylight. Since it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility with stops. The longest stretch is over 240 miles, so consider a quick break around the halfway point. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $38; planning a fill-up before starting or during a longer stop can ensure you don't have to detour for gas. Pay attention to exit numbers as you transition from I 94 to US-12 and then to South Moorland Road.
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 125.3 miles from Elk Mound, WI, or about 2h 17m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 240.5 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 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.3 miles or 2h 17m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Berlin, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Elk Mound, 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 Elk Mound, WI
This is one driving day of about 250.7 miles and 4h 35m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from Elk Mound, 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 94 for about 240.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 6 and 247.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
6 mi into trip|~9m in
Turn left toward I-94_East: Madison
Navigation decision point
Toward I-94_East: Madison
5
6.5 mi into trip|~10m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
186 mi into trip|~3h 23m 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
7
247 mi into trip|~4h 28m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 301A-B
Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road
7
247.4 mi into trip|~4h 29m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$37.02 one way
$74.05 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$40.87
$81.74
premium
$4.72
$46.55
$93.09
diesel
$4.80
$47.34
$94.67
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$37
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$62–$87
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 87.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.2
0
$26.32
$12.03
Efficient EV
62.7
0
$21.94
$10.03
EV Truck/SUV
100.3
1
$35.10
$16.04
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 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
Elk Mound, WI
Late night
in Elk Mound on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
93°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:05PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
New Berlin, WI
Late night
in New Berlin on Sunday
Local time
2:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
W 10 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 3:43PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:05PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
60°F
Lodi, WI
125 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
1 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
4h 35m 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.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 129.6
Park Closure: Janesville Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend almost all your time on the interstate, with 98% of the 250.7 miles on highways. The longest continuous stretch on I 94 covers 240.5 miles, meaning you can settle in for a long cruise. United States Highway 12 and South Moorland Road account for the final few miles on surface streets, marking the end of the highway portion.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 240.5 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and United States Highway 12. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 35m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 186 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 240.5 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 6 miles: Navigation decision point; at 6.5 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 186 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.2 hours — manageable with a long break at New Berlin, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
