Hurley, WI to Kenosha, WI is 344.5 miles and takes about 7h 7m via I 41 and US 51 South, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Wisconsin. Expect a drive that's predominantly on major highways, making for efficient travel. With only two recommended stops and a mostly highway profile, this route is ideal if you're looking for a straightforward, single-day transit between these two points.
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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
172.3 miles from Hurley, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 42m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
87.4 mi
1h 38m
Oneida Street
71.1 mi
1h 29m
US 51 South
55.1 mi
1h 20m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
I 39
29.8 mi
32m
North-South Freeway
23.3 mi
25m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 87.4 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 67 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
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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 Hurley, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on WI 77
99 ft·4 sec·Granite Road
2
Continue on WI 77
0.2 mi·41 sec·Silver Street
3
Turn right onto US 51
0.3 mi·49 sec·2nd Avenue South
Use the right lane.
4
Continue on US 51
55 mi·1 hr 20 min·US 51 South
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on US 51
71 mi·1 hr 29 min·Oneida Street
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51
22 mi·24 min·I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
7
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi·7 min·I 39; US 10; US 51
8
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
9
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
12
Merge onto I 41; US 41
86 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
23 mi·25 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 340Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
18
Turn left onto WI 142
3.6 mi·6 min·Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on CTH S
3.3 mi·7 min·Washington Road
20
Turn right onto WI 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Road
21
Turn left onto 54th Street
305 ft·14 sec·54th Street
22
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·8th Avenue
23
Turn right onto 56th Street
43 ft·1 sec·56th Street
24
Arrive at destination
56th Street
Trip Plan
Given the 7-hour duration, leaving Hurley, WI in the morning is recommended to maximize daylight and allow for flexibility. You have two stops factored into this plan, so consider using them for breaks or meals. The longest stretch without a major road change is 87.4 miles on I 41, so be sure to fuel up beforehand if needed. Since this is a single-day trip, you have the advantage of not needing to book overnight accommodations, allowing you to adjust your departure or arrival times as needed.
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 172.3 miles from Hurley, WI, or about 3h 42m 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 76 miles or 1h 47m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 172.3 miles or 3h 42m 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 51m
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 Hurley, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Hurley, WI
This is one driving day of about 344.5 miles and 7h 7m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 76 miles from Hurley, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks 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 17
5 decision points cluster between mile 157 and 336.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
157 mi into trip|~3h 24m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
8
207.9 mi into trip|~4h 24m 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
311.7 mi into trip|~6h 22m 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
336.3 mi into trip|~6h 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
336.6 mi into trip|~6h 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
$50.87 one way
$101.75 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg121 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$56.16
$112.33
premium
$4.72
$63.96
$127.93
diesel
$4.80
$65.05
$130.10
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 120.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $36 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
103.4
1
$36.17
$16.54
Efficient EV
86.1
0
$30.14
$13.78
EV Truck/SUV
137.8
1
$48.23
$22.05
Gas CO2
121 kg
EV CO2
40 kg (67% 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 17, 2026
Origin
Hurley, WI
Evening
in Hurley on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Areas Of Smoke
SW 10 to 15 mph32% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:04AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:55AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Kenosha, WI
Evening
in Kenosha on Saturday
Local time
8:27 PM
CDT
Current temp
90°F
Smoke then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 0 to 10 mph26% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:04AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 12:55AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth 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
3 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
7h 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 drive is mostly highway, with 76% of the 344.5 miles on major roads like I 41. You'll encounter a longest stretch of 87.4 miles on I 41 before you transition to surface roads like Oneida Street. The highway portion means you'll likely experience consistent cruising speeds and potentially frequent exits as you approach and depart larger towns.
76% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 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?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Oneida Street. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 157 miles in near US 10.
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 17 significant decision points across 344.5 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 157 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 207.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 311.7 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
1,638 ft600 ft
Total Climb
358 ft
Total Descent
1,258 ft
Highest Point
1,638 ft
~49.4 mi in
Elevation Range
1,038 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Hurley, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
The Gogebic Range is a historical iron mining area that comprises parts of Gogebic County in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan, and Iron County, Wisconsin. The largest city in the area is Ironwood, Michigan, though there are several other smaller cities within the vicinity.
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 7h 7m. Total distance: 344.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 2 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
7h 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.
Yes — we found about 16 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 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 2 meaningful breaks. There are 16 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 157 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 207.9 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 311.7 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 7.1 hours each way, a round trip means 14.2 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.
