Poynette Rest Area 12
0 mi from route
Trip from Kenosha, WI to Edson, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Oct 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 39m
Distance
283 mi
456 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$47
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 26m
★
6 AM
5h 40m
8 AM
6h 6m
10 AM
5h 49m
12 PM
5h 46m
3 PM
5h 50m
5 PM
6h 5m
8 PM
5h 32m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenosha, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Edson, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
Kenosha, WI to Edson, WI is 283 miles and takes about 5h 39m via East-West Freeway and I 90/I 94, with a fuel budget near $44 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays entirely within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to itself. It's a straightforward drive that's mostly highway, making it a convenient option for a single-day trip. You'll find it’s a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without too many detours.
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
141.5 miles from Kenosha, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 44m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East-West Freeway | 63.8 mi | 1h 9m |
| I 90 | 63.5 mi | 1h 8m |
| I 94 | 60.9 mi | 1h 5m |
| I 41 | 28.5 mi | 33m |
| County Highway H | 23.1 mi | 38m |
| US Highway 12 | 20.6 mi | 28m |
| Airport Freeway | 4.6 mi | 6m |
| Burlington Road | 3.7 mi | 6m |
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 204 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,239 veh/hr typical · worst 3,883
Quietest
2 AM
~204 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.9×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a
6a
noon
6p
11p
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 Kenosha, WI and Edson, 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
4.2 mi
·
5 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
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Use the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi
·
56 sec
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
Use the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
14
Merge onto I 94
10 mi
·
11 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi
·
57 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi
·
31 min
·
I 94
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi
·
1 hr 8 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
32 mi
·
34 min
·
I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Use the straight lane.
19
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
Exit 115
Toward US 12, WI 27, I 94 Alternate: Merrilian, Black River Falls
20
Keep slight right at fork
406 ft
·
9 sec
21
Turn straight onto US 12; WI 27
9.6 mi
·
13 min
·
US Highway 12
22
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.3 mi
·
50 sec
·
South Hammond Street
23
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
Washington Street
24
Continue on US 12; WI 27
11 mi
·
15 min
·
US Highway 12
25
At end of road, turn left onto US 10; US 12; WI 27
2.5 mi
·
3 min
·
US Highway 10
26
Turn right onto US 12; WI 27
197 ft
·
5 sec
·
US Highway 12
27
Turn right onto CTH H
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
·
South Center Street
28
Continue on CTH H
23 mi
·
38 min
·
County Highway H
29
Turn left onto 50th Avenue
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
50th Avenue
30
Continue on CTH V
2.7 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway V
31
At end of road, turn right onto CTH D; CTH V
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
County Highway D
32
Arrive at destination
CTH D; CTH V
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour 39-minute estimated drive time, starting in the morning is your best bet to comfortably complete this trip in one day. With only one recommended stop, you have flexibility in when and where you choose to stretch your legs. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially as you approach the 63.8-mile stretch on the East-West Freeway, as services can be more spaced out on longer highway segments. The estimated fuel cost of $44 should help you budget for gas along the way.
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 141.5 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 2h 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 62 miles or 1h 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 141.5 miles or 2h 44m 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 22m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Edson, 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 283 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 62 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 East-West Freeway for about 63.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
142 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 62 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 141.5 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before East-West Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.8 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Stops Along Your Drive
Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.
Rest area
0.1 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.1 mi from route
Kenosha Truck Stop
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.1 mi from route
Road Ranger
0.1 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.1 mi from route
Portage Rest Area 11
0.1 mi from route
Lyndon Station Rest Area 9
0.1 mi from route
Johnson Creek Rest Area 14
0.1 mi from route
Millston Rest Area 53
0.1 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.1 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Mauston Rest Area 10
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Black River Falls Rest Area 54
0.2 mi from route
Love's Travel Stop
0.2 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.2 mi from route
Petro Stopping Centers
0.3 mi from route
TA
0.3 mi from route
Flying J Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.3 mi from route
Service Plaza
0.3 mi from route
Pilot Travel Center
0.4 mi from route
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 225 decision points cluster between mile 30.8 and 105.9 — 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
41.2 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
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 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
41.4 mi into trip
|
~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
9
105.9 mi into trip
|
~2h 6m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.21 one way
$94.42 round trip
$4.24/gal
25.4 MPG avg
99 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.61 | $51.31 | $102.62 |
| premium | $5.26 | $58.59 | $117.19 |
| diesel | $6.18 | $68.84 | $137.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$47
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$72–$97
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 99 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 84.9 | 1 | $29.72 | $13.58 |
| Efficient EV | 70.8 | 0 | $24.76 | $11.32 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 113.2 | 1 | $39.62 | $18.11 |
Gas CO2
99 kg
EV CO2
33 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.
Origin
Kenosha, WI
Morning in Kenosha on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Areas Of Frost then Sunny
W 5 to 10 mph
1% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Edson, WI
Morning in Edson on Sunday
Local time
6:16 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Widespread Frost then Sunny
SW 5 to 15 mph
0% chance
Live forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 3:24AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 17 at 2:10AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM 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
2 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 39m 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 165.9
Caution: Use Caution — Devil's Lake Segment
Caution: Use Caution — Tisch Mills Segment
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
For 86% of the 283 miles, you'll be on highways like the East-West Freeway and I 90/I 94. The longest continuous stretch without needing to exit is 63.8 miles on the East-West Freeway. Expect a fairly constant cruising speed on these roads. Once you leave the main highways, the driving experience will shift to surface roads.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
32 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.8 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and I 90. 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 22 significant decision points across 283 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 41.2 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
1,078 ft
600 ft
Total Climb
803 ft
Total Descent
326 ft
Highest Point
1,078 ft
~283 mi in
Elevation Range
478 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kenosha, WI and Edson, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Saint Paul and Black River Falls.
Fond Du Lac
30.8 mi in
|
~40m
|
via I 41; I 94; US 41
Milwaukee
41.2 mi in
|
~55m
Eau Claire
105.9 mi in
|
~2h 6m
|
via I 94
Saint Paul
198.5 mi in
|
~3h 45m
|
via I 94
Black River Falls
230.3 mi in
|
~4h 19m
About the Cities
Starting in Kenosha, WI
Full guide →Founded 1835
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
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 39m. Total distance: 283 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (86%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.8 miles on East-West Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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 Edson, 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 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
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 41.2 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 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Edson, WI before the return drive.
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, EIA for fuel prices, USGS 3DEP for elevation, NPS for national parks, and FHWA TMAS for hourly traffic volumes. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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