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Trip from Kenosha, WI to Mequon, WI

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

Drive Time

1h 20m

Distance

55.8 mi

90 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$9

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 19 min
4 AM
1h 14m ★
6 AM
1h 20m
8 AM
1h 33m
10 AM
1h 24m
12 PM
1h 23m
3 PM
1h 25m
5 PM
1h 32m
8 PM
1h 16m

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

city in and county seat of Kenosha County, Wisconsin and part of the Chicago metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland

Kenosha, WI

Wikimedia Commons

fourth-class city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

Mequon, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This straightforward 55.8-mile drive from Kenosha, WI to Mequon, WI takes about 1 hour and 20 minutes, making it an easy day trip. You'll primarily be on I-41 and the North-South Freeway, with a brief section on Burlington Road. The estimated fuel cost is around $9, reflecting the 71% highway share of the journey. This route is a practical option for getting between these two Midwest locations without significant detours. It's a simple, direct connection perfect for a quick transit or a short excursion.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 41 22.6 mi 24m
North-South Freeway 16.8 mi 23m
Burlington Road 3.7 mi 6m
Washington Road 3 mi 6m
West Brown Deer Road 2.2 mi 4m
Cedarburg Road 2.2 mi 3m
West Mequon Road 2.1 mi 4m
Sheridan Road 1 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 41 — 22.6 mi, about 24m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Mequon, 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

17 mi · 23 min · North-South Freeway
Toward I 43 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 82A Toward East Brown Deer Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Keep slight left at fork

278 ft · 9 sec
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
10

Turn left onto WI 100

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Brown Deer Road
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Turn slight right

251 ft · 11 sec
12

Turn right onto WI 57

1.0 mi · 1 min · North Green Bay Road
13

Continue on WI 57

2.2 mi · 3 min · Cedarburg Road
Use the straight / right lanes.
14

Turn left onto WI 167

2.1 mi · 4 min · West Mequon Road
15

Turn left onto North Swan Road

0.2 mi · 22 sec · North Swan Road
16

Turn right

0.1 mi · 41 sec
17

Arrive at destination

Where to Stop

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

city in and county seat of Milwaukee County, and largest city in State of Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Milwaukee, WI

28 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

Franksville, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 12 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

South Milwaukee, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 27.9 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

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 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 1 and 47.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
1 mi into trip | ~2m in | CTH S / Washington Road

Turn left onto CTH S / Washington Road

Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
5
7.8 mi into trip | ~15m in

Take the ramp toward I 41 North, I 94 West

Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 41 North, I 94 West
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
7
47.6 mi into trip | ~1h 4m in

Take the exit toward East Brown Deer Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 82A Toward East Brown Deer Road
7
47.9 mi into trip | ~1h 5m in

Keep slight left at fork

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$8.72 one way

$17.45 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 20 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $9.58 $19.16
premium $4.89 $10.74 $21.48
diesel $5.61 $12.32 $24.64

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$9

Estimated CO2 emission: 19.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $6 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 16.7 0 $5.86 $2.68
Efficient EV 14 0 $4.88 $2.23
EV Truck/SUV 22.3 0 $7.81 $3.57

Gas CO2

20 kg

EV CO2

7 kg (65% 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

Late night in Kenosha on Sunday

Local time

4:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mequon, WI

Late night in Mequon on Sunday

Local time

4:57 AM

CDT

Current temp

68°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

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

10 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

1h 20m 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.

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused experience for most of this trip, with 71% of the drive utilizing major freeways like I-41. The longest uninterrupted stretch is 22.6 miles, allowing for consistent progress. While primarily interstate, the route incorporates sections of the North-South Freeway and Burlington Road, offering a slight variation in the driving experience. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather a functional and efficient path designed for straightforward travel.

71% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 22.6 mi on I 41.

How Hard Is This Drive?

8/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1 miles in near CTH S / Washington Road.

Driving Effort 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 55.8 miles you will encounter 12 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 1 miles (CTH S / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.

About the Cities

Starting in Kenosha, WI

Full guide →

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."

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 1h 20m. Total distance: 55.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 20m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (71%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 22.6 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 Mequon, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 1 miles (CTH S / Washington Road): Lane positioning matters here; at 7.8 miles: Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; 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.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Mequon, 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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Explore more options from Kenosha, WI or browse trips ending in Mequon, WI.

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