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Trip from Kenosha, WI to Appleton, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

2h 48m

Distance

141.6 mi

228 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$22

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 32 min
4 AM
2h 38m ★
6 AM
2h 49m
8 AM
3h 10m
10 AM
2h 56m
12 PM
2h 54m
3 PM
2h 57m
5 PM
3h 9m
8 PM
2h 42m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly
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city in and county seat of Kenosha County, Wisconsin and part of the Chicago metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland

Kenosha, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Outagamie County, Wisconsin, United States

Appleton, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 141.6-mile drive from Kenosha, Wisconsin, to Appleton, Wisconsin, is easily manageable as a single-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 48 minutes. You'll primarily be on I-41 for most of the journey, making it a highway-focused route. With an estimated fuel cost of $22, this trip is quite budget-friendly for a quick getaway or a visit within the Midwest. The route is designed for efficient travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stay. It’s a practical option for those looking to cover ground quickly between these two Wisconsin cities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

70.8 miles from Kenosha, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 30m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 41 123.3 mi 2h 17m
Airport Freeway 4.6 mi 6m
Burlington Road 3.7 mi 6m
Washington Road 3 mi 6m
South Memorial Drive 1.9 mi 2m
Tri-County Expressway 1.8 mi 2m
Sheridan Road 1 mi 2m
Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge 0.5 mi <1m
Longest stretch: I 41 — 123.3 mi, about 2h 17m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Appleton, WI.

1

Start on 56th Street

265 ft · 11 sec · 56th Street
2

Turn right onto WI 32

1.0 mi · 2 min · Sheridan Road
3

Turn left onto CTH S

3.0 mi · 6 min · Washington Road
Use the straight lane.
4

Continue on Burlington Road

3.7 mi · 6 min · Burlington Road
5

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 40 sec
Toward I 41 North, I 94 West
6

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

23 mi · 24 min · I 41; I 94; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41

0.6 mi · 49 sec · I 41; I 94; US 41
Exit 317 Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.
8

Continue on I 41; US 41

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41

4.6 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41

25 mi · 30 min · I 41; I 894; US 41
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

74 mi · 1 hr 19 min · I 41; US 41
Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton Use the slight left lane.
12

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 19 sec
Exit 134A Toward US 10, WI 441 North: Stevens Point Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

Keep slight right at fork

0.5 mi · 45 sec
Exit 134A Toward US 10 East, WI 441 North
14

Merge onto US 10; WI 441

0.5 mi · 34 sec · Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
15

Continue on US 10; WI 441

1.8 mi · 2 min · Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 25 sec
Toward WI 47 Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork

450 ft · 11 sec
18

Enter roundabout onto Appleton Road

256 ft · 4 sec · Appleton Road
19

Continue on Appleton Road

350 ft · 6 sec · Appleton Road
20

Enter roundabout onto WI 47

119 ft · 1 sec · Appleton Road
21

Continue on WI 47

0.2 mi · 17 sec · Appleton Road
22

Continue on WI 47

1.9 mi · 2 min · South Memorial Drive
Use the straight lane.
23

Turn straight

269 ft · 9 sec
24

Turn straight onto West College Avenue

204 ft · 34 sec · West College Avenue
25

Continue on West College Avenue

260 ft · 8 sec · West College Avenue
26

Arrive at destination

West College Avenue

Trip Plan

Given the relatively short duration of under 3 hours, you have a lot of flexibility with departure times for this trip from Kenosha to Appleton. Consider leaving in the morning to maximize your day at your destination, or depart mid-afternoon to avoid peak traffic. With only one recommended stop, you can easily power through this drive. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the longest stretch on I-41, and plan for a brief refill if needed. The efficient nature of this route means you can be quite spontaneous with your timing.

Morning Departure

Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.

Evening Departure

Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 70.8 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 1h 30m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 123.3 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 31 miles or 41m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 70.8 miles or 1h 30m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 2h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Appleton, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Kenosha, 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 Kenosha, WI

This is one driving day of about 141.6 miles and 2h 48m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Kenosha, 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 123.3 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

Downtown Addison, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Addison, WI

71 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Pacing Suggestions

Greendale, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 31 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Addison, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 70.8 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 123.3 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 16

5 decision points cluster between mile 30.8 and 136.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

9
30.8 mi into trip | ~40m in | I 41; I 94; US 41

Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Exit 317 Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Ma...
8
37 mi into trip | ~49m in | I 41; I 894; US 41

Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US...
8
61.6 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in | I 41; US 41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton
8
136 mi into trip | ~2h 39m in

Take the exit toward US 10, WI 441 North: Stevens Point

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 134A Toward US 10, WI 441 North: Stevens Point
7
136.3 mi into trip | ~2h 40m in

Keep slight right at fork toward US 10 East, WI 441 North

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 134A Toward US 10 East, WI 441 North

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$22.14 one way

$44.28 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 50 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $24.31 $48.61
premium $4.89 $27.25 $54.50
diesel $5.61 $31.26 $62.53

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$22

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$47–$72

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 49.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $15 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 42.5 0 $14.87 $6.80
Efficient EV 35.4 0 $12.39 $5.66
EV Truck/SUV 56.6 0 $19.82 $9.06

Gas CO2

50 kg

EV CO2

17 kg (66% less)

This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.

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 16, 2026

Origin

Kenosha, WI

Night in Kenosha on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms then Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

N 5 to 10 mph 33% chance Live forecast

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 10:50AM CDT until April 19 at 1:40AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Flood Warning

Flood Warning issued April 16 at 10:46AM CDT until April 21 at 1:00PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI

Destination

Appleton, WI

Night in Appleton on Saturday

Local time

11:16 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

46°F

Addison, WI

71 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

15 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

2h 48m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a predominantly highway experience on this route, with 92% of the drive utilizing major roadways. The bulk of your travel will be on I-41, offering a consistent and uninterrupted stretch of 123.3 miles. You'll also navigate segments of Airport Freeway and Burlington Road, which are integrated into the overall highway flow. This means the road's personality is largely defined by its efficiency and speed, rather than varied scenery or winding local roads. It’s a drive built for covering distance with minimal slowdowns.

92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 123.3 mi on I 41.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Airport Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.8 miles in near I 41; I 94; US 41.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 141.6 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 30.8 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

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 Kenosha, WI to Appleton, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.

Fond Du Lac

30.8 mi in | ~40m | via I 41; I 94; US 41

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 48m. Total distance: 141.6 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

2h 48m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 123.3 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

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 Appleton, 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 30.8 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 61.6 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Appleton, WI before heading back.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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