Kenosha, WI to Packwaukee, WI is 156.5 miles and takes about 3h 1m via East-West Freeway and I 41, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a straightforward drive, mostly on well-traveled highways, making it a practical choice for a single day. If you're looking for a simple transit between these two points without much fuss, this route fits the bill. Plan for a direct trip with minimal detours, keeping your focus on getting to your destination efficiently.
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
78.3 miles from Kenosha, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 36m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi
1h 9m
I 94
29.1 mi
31m
I 41
28.5 mi
33m
I 39
19.8 mi
21m
Airport Freeway
4.6 mi
6m
Burlington Road
3.7 mi
6m
Washington Road
3 mi
6m
County Road D
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 98 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,448 veh/hr typical
· worst 4,016
Quietest
2 AM
~209 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.5×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
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 Kenosha, WI and Packwaukee, 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 317Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du LacUse 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 LacUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1B-AToward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Exit 1BToward I 94 West: MadisonUse 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 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 39
Exit 108A; 108BToward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, WausauUse the slight right lane.
18
Continue on I 39
20 mi·21 min·I 39
Exit 108BToward I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
19
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Toward CTH D: Packwaukee
20
Turn right onto CTH D
1.4 mi·2 min·County Road D
21
Arrive at destination
CTH D
Trip Plan
With a drive time of just over 3 hours, this is easily a same-day trip, offering flexibility in when you depart. Leaving Kenosha in the morning should get you to Packwaukee with plenty of daylight left. You'll encounter one planned stop, which is a good opportunity to refuel and take a short break. The fuel cost is estimated at $28, so ensure you have enough gas before hitting the road or plan a fill-up. Since the drive is relatively short and predominantly highway, you can adjust your timing based on traffic or personal preference.
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 78.3 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 1h 36m 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 34 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 78.3 miles or 1h 36m 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 30m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Packwaukee, 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 156.5 miles and 3h 1m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 34 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.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 30.8 and 135 — 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
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...
9
135 mi into trip|~2h 37m in|I 39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39 toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 108A; 108B
Toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Porta...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$26.02 one way
$52.04 round trip
$4.22/gal25.4 MPG avg55 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.60
$28.34
$56.69
premium
$5.18
$31.93
$63.87
diesel
$5.35
$32.96
$65.93
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$26
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$51–$76
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 54.8 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-06-01.
Driving Electric?
About $16 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
47
0
$16.43
$7.51
Efficient EV
39.1
0
$13.69
$6.26
EV Truck/SUV
62.6
0
$21.91
$10.02
Gas CO2
55 kg
EV CO2
18 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 Jun 2, 2026
Origin
Kenosha, WI
Afternoon
in Kenosha on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
52°F
Clear
NE 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Packwaukee, WI
Afternoon
in Packwaukee on Wednesday
Local time
4:49 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Clear
NE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
87°F
Hebron, WI
78 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
3 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 1m 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.
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...
16 mi from route
~41 min detour
Free
near mile 156.5
Park Closure: Lodi Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park Closure: Janesville Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend 93% of this 156.5-mile drive on highways, so expect mostly high-speed cruising. The longest continuous stretch without a major change in road type is 63.8 miles on the East-West Freeway. After that, you'll transition from highway driving to surface roads for the remainder of the trip. Given the high highway percentage, anticipate a consistent flow of traffic and frequent exits in the highway sections.
93% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
21 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 94. 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 Effort8/10
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 156.5 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 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
1,055 ft600 ft
Total Climb
604 ft
Total Descent
423 ft
Highest Point
1,055 ft
~123 mi in
Elevation Range
455 ft
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 Packwaukee, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Portage and Wausau.
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 3h 1m. Total distance: 156.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 1m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). 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 13 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 Packwaukee, 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 13 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.
Possible but tiring. At 3.0 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 6.1 hours — manageable with a long break at Packwaukee, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
