Ladysmith, WI to Oak Creek, WI is 302.6 miles and takes about 6h 9m via I 94 and State Highway 27, with a fuel budget near $53 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. It's a single-day trip, mostly on major highways, making it a straightforward transit. You'll likely find it a practical option if you're looking to cover ground efficiently between these two points.
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
151.3 miles from Ladysmith, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 15m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
214.7 mi
3h 50m
State Highway 27
55.1 mi
1h 21m
County Highway R
6.8 mi
11m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Zoo Freeway
4 mi
5m
North-South Freeway
3.2 mi
4m
East Puetz Road
2.5 mi
5m
I 41
1.3 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 214.7 mi, about 3h 50m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 94 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,873 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,397
Quietest
2 AM
~159 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18.1×
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 Ladysmith, WI and Oak Creek, WI.
1
Start on this road
36 ft·7 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Worden Avenue West
443 ft·34 sec·Worden Avenue West
3
At end of road, turn left onto Miner Avenue West
0.3 mi·1 min·Miner Avenue West
4
Turn left onto WI 27
1.1 mi·1 min·West 9th Street South
5
Continue on WI 27
21 mi·30 min·State Highway 27
6
Continue on WI 27; WI 64
0.9 mi·1 min·Bridge Street
7
Turn left onto WI 27
0.6 mi·51 sec·South 3rd Street
8
Continue on WI 27
35 mi·51 min·State Highway 27
9
Turn right onto US 12; CTH G
1.0 mi·1 min·West Lincoln Street
10
Continue on US 12; WI 27
0.2 mi·22 sec·US 12; WI 27
11
Turn left onto CTH R
6.8 mi·11 min·County Highway R
12
Continue on CTH R
0.5 mi·54 sec·County Road R
13
At end of road, turn right onto US 10
0.8 mi·1 min·US Highway 10
14
Continue on US 10
0.8 mi·1 min·10th Street
15
Turn sharp left
0.3 mi·39 sec
16
Merge onto I 94
151 mi·2 hr 41 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi·38 sec
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: ChicagoUse the slight left lane.
20
Continue on this road
0.3 mi·30 sec·this road
Exit 305AToward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
21
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
22
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
4.0 mi·5 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
1.3 mi·1 min·I 41; US 41
Exit 10BToward I 41 South, I 94 South: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
25
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
3.2 mi·4 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
26
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 321Toward Drexel AvenueUse the slight right lane.
27
Turn left onto West Drexel Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·West Drexel Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
28
Turn right onto WI 38
1.0 mi·1 min·South Howell Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
29
Turn left onto East Puetz Road
2.5 mi·5 min·East Puetz Road
30
Arrive at destination
East Puetz Road
Trip Plan
Given the 6h 9m estimated duration, leaving Ladysmith in the morning should allow ample time to reach Oak Creek before evening. The route has only one suggested stop, so plan your breaks accordingly, especially during the 214.7-mile stretch on I 94. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, as the estimated cost is $53, and services might be more spread out on the non-interstate portions. This is a manageable drive for a single day, so you have flexibility in your departure time.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 151.3 miles from Ladysmith, WI, or about 3h 15m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 214.7 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 67 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 151.3 miles or 3h 15m 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 59m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Creek, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ladysmith, 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 Ladysmith, WI
This is one driving day of about 302.6 miles and 6h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 67 miles from Ladysmith, 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 94 for about 214.7 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 21
5 decision points cluster between mile 219.1 and 293 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
219.1 mi into trip|~4h 27m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
8
283.2 mi into trip|~5h 37m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
8
283.8 mi into trip|~5h 38m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US...
7
284.5 mi into trip|~5h 39m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
9
293 mi into trip|~5h 51m in|I 41; US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$44.69 one way
$89.37 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg106 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$49.33
$98.67
premium
$4.72
$56.18
$112.37
diesel
$4.80
$57.14
$114.27
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$45
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$70–$95
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 105.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
90.8
1
$31.77
$14.52
Efficient EV
75.7
0
$26.48
$12.10
EV Truck/SUV
121
1
$42.36
$19.37
Gas CO2
106 kg
EV CO2
35 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.
Forecast as of Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Ladysmith, WI
Late night
in Ladysmith on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
91°F
Mostly Sunny
SW 10 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:05PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Oak Creek, WI
Late night
in Oak Creek on Sunday
Local time
4:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Patchy Smoke
SW 10 mph30% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:05PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
1 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
6h 9m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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...
26 mi from route
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 157.4
Park Closure: Devil’s Lake Segment — Balanced Rock Trail Closed May 4–8
Park Closure: Lodi 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?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 94% of the 302.6 miles on major roads like I 94. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of 214.7 miles on I 94 before transitioning to surface roads. Expect a consistent cruising pace for most of the trip, punctuated by the occasional exit and entrance ramps as you navigate the interstate.
94% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 214.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 27. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 219.1 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 302.6 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 219.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 283.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,143 ft701 ft
Total Climb
282 ft
Total Descent
724 ft
Highest Point
1,143 ft
Elevation Range
442 ft
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 Ladysmith, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.
Ladysmith is the largest city in Rusk County, Wisconsin. With a 2020 population of roughly 3200, it is also the county seat of Rusk County. Ladysmith is the only city on the main fork of the Flambeau River and there are several parks along the river as it bends through the city.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 9m. Total distance: 302.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 9m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 214.7 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 21 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 Oak Creek, 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 21 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 219.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 283.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 283.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 6.2 hours each way, a round trip means 12.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oak Creek, WI before the return drive.
