Spanning 148.1 miles across Wisconsin, this drive from Kenosha to Kewaunee typically takes 3 hours and 9 minutes behind the wheel. Because the duration is relatively short, you can easily complete the entire trip in a single day without needing an overnight stay. You will primarily navigate via I-43, the North-South Freeway, and I-41, making this a straightforward journey through the Midwest. Budgeting about $22 for fuel should cover your travel costs comfortably. Whether you are heading north for a weekend getaway or a quick change of scenery, the route is designed for efficiency rather than a slow-paced tour.
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
74 miles from Kenosha, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
55.3 mi
59m
North-South Freeway
28.2 mi
36m
I 41
22.6 mi
24m
State Highway 42
19.2 mi
28m
Memorial Drive
4.6 mi
7m
Burlington Road
3.7 mi
6m
Washington Road
3 mi
6m
Calumet Avenue
2 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 55.3 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Kewaunee, 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 left at fork onto I 94
28 mi·36 min·North-South Freeway
Toward I 43 North, I 94 West: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Continue on I 43; WI 57
55 mi·59 min·I 43; WI 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi·29 sec
Exit 149Toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac
10
Keep slight right at fork
169 ft·4 sec
11
Turn straight onto WI 42
2.0 mi·3 min·Calumet Avenue
Use the straight lane.
12
Continue on WI 42
0.2 mi·27 sec·Washington Street
13
Turn left onto South 21st Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South 21st Street
Use the left lane.
14
Continue on Revere Drive
0.4 mi·38 sec·Revere Drive
15
Continue on CTH Q
0.4 mi·51 sec·North 18th Street
16
Turn right onto US 10
1.3 mi·3 min·Waldo Boulevard
Use the straight lane.
17
Enter roundabout onto Memorial Drive
130 ft·7 sec·Memorial Drive
18
Continue on Memorial Drive
4.6 mi·6 min·Memorial Drive
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on WI 42
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Street
20
Turn right onto WI 42
0.4 mi·43 sec·22nd Street
Use the right lane.
21
Turn left onto WI 42
2.0 mi·2 min·Lincoln Avenue
Use the left lane.
22
Continue on WI 42
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 42
23
Continue on WI 42
1.7 mi·2 min·Milwaukee Street
24
Turn left onto WI 29
32 ft·0 sec·Ellis Street
25
Arrive at destination
WI 29
Trip Plan
Since this is a manageable three-hour trek, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Plan for at least one stop to stretch your legs and break up the highway monotony of the I-43 and I-41 corridors. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge during the longest 55.3-mile stretch, as stopping early can help you avoid potential traffic bottlenecks closer to urban centers. Because this is a one-day trip, starting your drive mid-morning allows you to arrive in Kewaunee by the afternoon with plenty of daylight left. Aim to time your departure to avoid peak commuter hours on the North-South Freeway to ensure a smoother, more predictable arrival.
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 74 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 1h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.3 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 33 miles or 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 74 miles or 1h 33m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kewaunee, 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 148.1 miles and 3h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 33 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 43 for about 55.3 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 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.8 and 124.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
30.8 mi into trip|~40m in|I 94 / North-South Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / North-South Freeway toward I 43 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 43 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
6
114.3 mi into trip|~2h 16m in
Take the exit toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 149
Toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc,...
6
116.8 mi into trip|~2h 20m in|South 21st Street
Turn left onto South 21st Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
118.2 mi into trip|~2h 23m in|US 10 / Waldo Boulevard
Turn right onto US 10 / Waldo Boulevard
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
6
124.8 mi into trip|~2h 34m in|WI 42 / 22nd Street
Turn right onto WI 42 / 22nd Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$23.15 one way
$46.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg52 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$25.42
$50.84
premium
$4.89
$28.50
$57.00
diesel
$5.61
$32.70
$65.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$23
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$48–$73
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 51.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
44.4
0
$15.55
$7.11
Efficient EV
37
0
$12.96
$5.92
EV Truck/SUV
59.2
0
$20.73
$9.48
Gas CO2
52 kg
EV CO2
17 kg (67% 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 19, 2026
Origin
Kenosha, WI
Night
in Kenosha on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kewaunee, WI
Night
in Kewaunee on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
6 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
3h 9m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-focused experience, as 85% of this route consists of high-speed interstate travel. You will settle into a rhythmic pace, with the longest uninterrupted stretch covering 55.3 miles on I-43. While you spend most of your time on major arterial roads, the transition between these thoroughfares keeps the drive from feeling entirely monotonous. Because the trip is built for speed and connectivity, you can maintain consistent momentum throughout the 148-mile journey. Prepare for a practical, efficient drive that prioritizes reaching your destination in the Midwest over winding backroads.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
25 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.3 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and North-South Freeway. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 30.8 miles in near I 94 / North-South Freeway.
Driving Effort6/10
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 148.1 miles you will encounter 15 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 30.8 miles (I 94 / North-South Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.8 miles (South 21st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
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 Kewaunee, WI, road signs point toward Lmct: Manitowoc and Fond Du Lac.
Lmct: Manitowoc
114.3 mi in|~2h 16m
Fond Du Lac
114.3 mi in|~2h 16m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 9m. Total distance: 148.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 9m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 55.3 miles on I 43. 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.
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 Kewaunee, 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 94 / North-South Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 116.8 miles (South 21st Street): Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 3.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kewaunee, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
