Connecting Ettrick to Milwaukee, this 218.1-mile journey across Wisconsin takes approximately 4 hours and 18 minutes of driving time. Because the trip is well under five hours, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, allowing you to reach your destination without the need for an overnight stay. You can expect to spend roughly $33 on fuel for the trip, making it a relatively affordable way to cross the state. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, ensuring a straightforward and predictable travel experience. Whether you are heading out for business or a change of scenery, this drive offers a reliable connection between these two Midwest locations.
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
109.1 miles from Ettrick, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 16m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
108.4 mi
1h 56m
I 94
70.7 mi
1h 18m
County Highway D
8.3 mi
14m
State Highway 27
8 mi
10m
State Highway 71
7.6 mi
11m
County Road D
6.4 mi
11m
East Wisconsin Street
1.6 mi
2m
State Highway 108
1.1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 108.4 mi, about 1h 56m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Ettrick, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on CTH D
0.2 mi·26 sec·South Main Street
2
Continue on CTH D
6.4 mi·11 min·County Road D
3
Continue on CTH D
8.3 mi·14 min·County Highway D
4
At end of road, turn right onto WI 54
0.3 mi·22 sec·State Highway 54
5
Continue on WI 54
0.9 mi·1 min·North Washington Street
6
Turn straight onto WI 108
0.3 mi·31 sec·Sparta Street
7
Continue on WI 108
1.1 mi·1 min·State Highway 108
8
Turn left onto WI 71
7.6 mi·11 min·State Highway 71
9
At end of road, turn right onto WI 27; WI 71
8.0 mi·10 min·State Highway 27
10
Continue on WI 27; WI 71
0.3 mi·33 sec·Black River Street
11
Turn left onto West Montgomery Street
0.5 mi·56 sec·West Montgomery Street
12
Turn right onto WI 21
0.4 mi·47 sec·North Water Street
13
Turn left onto East Oak Street
0.3 mi·42 sec·East Oak Street
14
At end of road, turn right onto East Avenue
0.2 mi·35 sec·East Avenue
15
Turn left onto WI 16; WI 71
0.6 mi·1 min·East Wisconsin Street
16
Continue on WI 16; WI 71
0.2 mi·24 sec·State Highway 16
17
Enter roundabout onto WI 16
109 ft·6 sec·East Wisconsin Street
18
Continue on WI 16
1.0 mi·1 min·East Wisconsin Street
19
Continue on WI 16
0.2 mi·17 sec·State Highway 16
20
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·59 sec
21
Merge onto I 90
108 mi·1 hr 56 min·I 90
Use the straight lane.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi·1 min·East-West Freeway
Exit 310CToward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 1EToward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
25
Turn slight right
309 ft·14 sec
Toward Jackson Street SouthUse the right lane.
26
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Saint Paul Avenue
27
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Milwaukee Street
28
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one dedicated stop to stretch your legs during the 4-hour and 18-minute trip. Since the route is dominated by interstate travel, try to avoid peak rush hours near Milwaukee to ensure your arrival is as stress-free as possible. With a total fuel budget of $33, you may want to fill up before leaving Ettrick to lock in your costs early. Use the flexibility of this one-day route to depart whenever suits your schedule, but keep an eye on the transition from I-90/I-94 to County Highway D, as this shift requires more focused navigation than the wide-open interstate segments.
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 109.1 miles from Ettrick, WI, or about 2h 16m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 108.4 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 48 miles or 1h 11m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.1 miles or 2h 16m 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 33m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milwaukee, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ettrick, 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 Ettrick, WI
This is one driving day of about 218.1 miles and 4h 18m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 48 miles from Ettrick, 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 90 for about 108.4 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 14.9 and 217.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
14.9 mi into trip|~26m in|WI 54 / State Highway 54
At end of road, turn right onto WI 54 / State Highway 54
Navigation decision point
5
25.2 mi into trip|~41m in|WI 27; WI 71 / State Highway 27
At end of road, turn right onto WI 27; WI 71 / State Highway 27
Navigation decision point
8
145.8 mi into trip|~2h 56m 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
9
216.5 mi into trip|~4h 14m in|I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
6
217.4 mi into trip|~4h 16m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.10 one way
$68.19 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg76 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$37.44
$74.88
premium
$4.89
$41.97
$83.94
diesel
$5.61
$48.15
$96.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
65.4
0
$22.90
$10.47
Efficient EV
54.5
0
$19.08
$8.72
EV Truck/SUV
87.2
1
$30.53
$13.96
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Ettrick, WI
Night
in Ettrick on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Night
in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
11:21 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Cloudy
W 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 12:10AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
26 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 18m 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 90.3
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 90% of your travel occurs on major roads including I-90, I-94, and County Highway D. You will spend the bulk of your time in the flow of interstate traffic, with your longest uninterrupted stretch covering 108.4 miles along I-90. While the interstate segments provide a fast, consistent pace, the transition onto local county roads adds a brief change in tempo to the journey. This combination keeps the drive efficient, though you should be prepared for the typical rhythm of high-speed transit. It is a functional, direct route that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads.
90% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
28 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 108.4 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. You will hit about 17 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 14.9 miles in near WI 54 / State Highway 54.
Driving Effort5/10
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 218.1 miles you will encounter 17 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 14.9 miles (WI 54 / State Highway 54): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (WI 27; WI 71 / State Highway 27): Navigation decision point; at 145.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 18m. Total distance: 218.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 18m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 108.4 miles on I 90. 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.
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 14.9 miles (WI 54 / State Highway 54): Navigation decision point; at 25.2 miles (WI 27; WI 71 / State Highway 27): Navigation decision point; at 145.8 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 4.3 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.6 hours — manageable with a long break at Milwaukee, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
