Hudson, WI to Oak Creek, WI is 323 miles and takes about 5h 59m via I 94 and I 90, with a fuel budget near $54 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within the Midwest region, connecting two points in Wisconsin. It's primarily a highway trip designed for efficient travel, making it a solid option if you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss. With a travel time under six hours and a low fuel cost, it's perfectly suited for a single-day excursion.
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
161.5 miles from Hudson, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
241.1 mi
4h 19m
I 90
61.2 mi
1h 5m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Zoo Freeway
4 mi
5m
North-South Freeway
3.2 mi
4m
East Puetz Road
2.5 mi
5m
I 41
1.3 mi
1m
West Drexel Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 241.1 mi, about 4h 19m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 280 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,448 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,044
Quietest
2 AM
~161 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.2×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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Averaged across 104 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 Hudson, WI and Oak Creek, WI.
1
Start on WI 35
0.7 mi·1 min·Second Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
2
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35
0.5 mi·1 min·WI 35
Toward Eau Claire, River FallsUse the slight left lane.
3
Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35
177 mi·3 hr 9 min·I 94; US 12; WI 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4
Continue on I 90; I 94
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
8
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·30 sec·this road
Exit 305AToward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
4.0 mi·5 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
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.
13
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
3.2 mi·4 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 321Toward Drexel AvenueUse the slight right lane.
15
Turn left onto West Drexel Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·West Drexel Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
16
Turn right onto WI 38
1.0 mi·1 min·South Howell Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
17
Turn left onto East Puetz Road
2.5 mi·5 min·East Puetz Road
18
Arrive at destination
East Puetz Road
Trip Plan
For this 323-mile drive, leaving in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and take advantage of lighter traffic, especially if you encounter the Airport Freeway segment. Since it's a single-day trip at under six hours, you can easily complete it without needing an overnight stop. Plan for one fuel and rest break; the longest stretch is over 241 miles, so consider stopping around the halfway point or when you feel ready. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the estimated cost is $54, and it's always better to top off before you're running on fumes, particularly on stretches of I 94.
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 161.5 miles from Hudson, WI, or about 2h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 241.1 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 71 miles or 1h 17m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 161.5 miles or 2h 54m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Creek, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Hudson, 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 Hudson, WI
This is one driving day of about 323 miles and 5h 59m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Hudson, 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 241.1 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.7 and 313.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
0.7 mi into trip|~1m in|WI 35
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35 toward Eau Claire, River Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Eau Claire, River Falls
8
239.4 mi into trip|~4h 18m 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
8
303.6 mi into trip|~5h 27m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
8
304.2 mi into trip|~5h 28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US...
9
313.3 mi into trip|~5h 41m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$53.88 one way
$107.76 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg113 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$58.56
$117.12
premium
$5.26
$66.88
$133.75
diesel
$6.18
$78.58
$157.15
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$54
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$79–$104
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
96.9
1
$33.92
$15.50
Efficient EV
80.8
0
$28.26
$12.92
EV Truck/SUV
129.2
1
$45.22
$20.67
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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 Oct 17, 2026
Origin
Hudson, WI
Late night
in Hudson on Saturday
Local time
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
30°F
Widespread Frost
W 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:56PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 4:57PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Oak Creek, WI
Late night
in Oak Creek on Saturday
Local time
5:31 AM
CDT
Current temp
35°F
Mostly Clear then Areas Of Frost
N 5 to 20 mph2% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:56PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 4:57PM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
52°F
Guilford, IL
162 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
5h 59m 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
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 178.2
Caution: Use Caution — Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a drive that is 98% highway, meaning you'll be on major interstates for almost the entire 323 miles. The longest continuous stretch on I 94 measures 241.1 miles, so you'll have plenty of time for steady cruising. You'll encounter the Airport Freeway closer to your destination, which typically means more exits and potentially denser traffic as you approach Oak Creek. The transition from rural or suburban highway to more developed areas will be gradual.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 241.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.7 miles in near WI 35.
Driving Effort9/10
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 323 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 0.7 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 239.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 303.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,219 ft701 ft
Total Climb
980 ft
Total Descent
992 ft
Highest Point
1,219 ft
~23.3 mi in
Elevation Range
518 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 Hudson, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.
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 5h 59m. Total distance: 323 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 59m 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 241.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 33 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 Oak Creek, 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 33 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.7 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 239.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 303.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oak Creek, WI before the return drive.
