Trip from Lake Hallie, WI to Racine, WI

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

Drive Time

5h 14m

Distance

275.8 mi

444 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$41

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 41 min

4 AM

5h 1m ★

6 AM

5h 15m

8 AM

5h 42m

10 AM

5h 24m

12 PM

5h 21m

3 PM

5h 25m

5 PM

5h 40m

8 PM

5h 7m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Lake Hallie, WI

Tom Fisk

city in and county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States

Racine, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Lake Hallie to Racine is 275.8 miles and takes about 5h 14m via I 94, with a fuel budget near $42 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 straightforward trip, largely on interstates, making it a good option if you want to get from point A to point B efficiently. With a recommended one-day drive, you can easily make this trip without needing an overnight stay.

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

137.9 miles from Lake Hallie, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 33m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	232 mi	4h 9m
North-South Freeway	11.9 mi	13m
Northwestern Avenue	9 mi	15m
US 53	7.8 mi	9m
Airport Freeway	4.3 mi	5m
Zoo Freeway	4 mi	5m
I 41	1.3 mi	1m
State Street	1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 232 mi, about 4h 9m

Traffic on I-94

Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 102 FHWA count stations on your route.

Peak

4 PM

~2,974 veh/hr typical · worst 3,514

Quietest

2 AM

~180 veh/hr

Peak-to-quiet ratio

16.5×

busier at peak than in the quiet hours

12a 6a noon 6p 11p

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 Lake Hallie, WI and Racine, WI.

Start on CTH OO

46 ft · 8 sec · Joles Avenue

Turn sharp left onto 22nd Avenue

0.1 mi · 30 sec · 22nd Avenue

Turn right onto 115th Street

0.8 mi · 3 min · 115th Street

At end of road, turn left onto East Melby Street

0.5 mi · 1 min · East Melby Street

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 43 sec

Merge onto US 53

7.4 mi · 8 min · US 53

Turn straight onto US 53

0.2 mi · 20 sec · US 53

Toward US 53 South: Brackett

Enter roundabout onto US 53

378 ft · 5 sec · US 53

Continue on US 53

441 ft · 8 sec · US 53

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Merge onto I 94

168 mi · 2 hr 59 min · I 94

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

64 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 94

Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 305A-B Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago Use the slight left lane.

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 30 sec · this road

Exit 305A Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

4.0 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 41; US 41

Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

12 mi · 13 min · North-South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 30 sec

Exit 329 Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto CTH K

5.1 mi · 9 min · Northwestern Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Enter roundabout onto WI 38

27 ft · 0 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Continue on WI 38

3.4 mi · 5 min · Northwestern Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto WI 38

91 ft · 1 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Continue on WI 38

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Enter roundabout onto WI 38

72 ft · 4 sec · State Street

Continue on WI 38

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto WI 32

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Main Street

Turn right onto WI 20; WI 32

309 ft · 17 sec · 6th Street

Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue

284 ft · 14 sec · Wisconsin Avenue

Turn left onto WI 20; WI 32

245 ft · 8 sec · 7th Street

Arrive at destination

WI 20; WI 32

Trip Plan

Given the 5h 14m duration, leaving in the morning from Lake Hallie will allow you to arrive in Racine well before the evening. The route has only one recommended stop, but with 232 miles on I 94, you might consider a brief break midway. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the long interstate segment, as services can sometimes be spaced out. The total fuel cost is estimated at $42, so budget accordingly. Since this is a single-day drive, you have flexibility in your departure time.

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 137.9 miles from Lake Hallie, WI, or about 2h 33m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232 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 61 miles or 1h 10m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 137.9 miles or 2h 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 4h 8m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Racine, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Lake Hallie, 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 Lake Hallie, WI

This is one driving day of about 275.8 miles and 5h 14m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 61 miles from Lake Hallie, 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 232 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in Dane County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Cross Plains, WI

138 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

Black River Falls, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Lodi, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 137.9 miles from Lake Hallie, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

1.5 mi from route

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 27

5 decision points cluster between mile 177.8 and 265 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

177.8 mi into trip | ~3h 15m 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

242 mi into trip | ~4h 25m 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

242.6 mi into trip | ~4h 26m 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...

251.8 mi into trip | ~4h 39m 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

265 mi into trip | ~4h 55m in

Take the exit toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 329 Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$40.73 one way

$81.46 round trip

$3.75/gal 25.4 MPG avg 97 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.14	$44.96	$89.93
premium	$4.72	$51.21	$102.42
diesel	$4.80	$52.08	$104.15

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$41

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$66–$91

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 96.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.

Driving Electric?

About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	82.7	1	$28.96	$13.24
Efficient EV	69	0	$24.13	$11.03
EV Truck/SUV	110.3	1	$38.61	$17.65

Gas CO2

96 kg

EV CO2

32 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 18, 2026

Origin

Lake Hallie, WI

Afternoon in Lake Hallie on Sunday

Local time

12:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

70°F

Chance Showers And Thunderstorms

W 5 to 10 mph 29% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:01PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN

Destination

Racine, WI

Afternoon in Racine on Sunday

Local time

12:37 PM

CDT

Current temp

76°F

Partly Cloudy

SW 5 to 10 mph 6% chance Live forecast

Special Weather Statement

Special Weather Statement issued July 17 at 10:01PM 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

6 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 14m 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 123.6

Park Closure: Cross Plains Segment — Partial Trail Closure

Caution: Tisch Mills Segment — Seasonal Flooding

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

What kind of drive is this?

This route is 95% highway, meaning you'll spend most of your time on the Interstate. The longest continuous stretch on I 94 is 232 miles. You'll transition to surface roads, specifically Northwestern Avenue, for the final portion of the trip. Expect frequent exits and merging traffic as you approach your destination.

95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

33 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 232 mi on I 94.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 177.8 miles in near I 94.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 27 significant decision points across 275.8 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 177.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 242 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 242.6 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,095 ft 624 ft

Total Climb

409 ft

Total Descent

685 ft

Highest Point

1,095 ft

~39.4 mi in

Elevation Range

471 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 Lake Hallie, WI to Racine, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.

Fond Du Lac

242 mi in | ~4h 25m

About the Cities

Starting in Lake Hallie, WI

Full guide →

Founded 2003

Arriving in Racine, WI

Full guide →

Founded 1699

Racine is a city of 77,000 people (2019) in Southeast Wisconsin along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. It is the county seat of Racine County.

Top landmarks

• Johnson Wax Headquarters — corporate headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin
• Thomas P. Hardy House — historic house in Wisconsin, United States
• Racine Harbor Lighthouse and Life Saving Station — 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 14m. Total distance: 275.8 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 14m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 232 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

Yes — we found about 22 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 Racine, 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 22 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.

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 5.2 hours each way, a round trip means 10.5 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Racine, 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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Explore more options from Lake Hallie, WI or browse trips ending in Racine, WI.

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Trip from Lake Hallie, WI to Racine, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Traffic on I-94

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Stops Along Your Drive

Lyndon Station Rest Area 9

Millston Rest Area 53

Love's Travel Stop

Pilot Travel Center

Portage Rest Area 11

Poynette Rest Area 12

Service Plaza

Service Plaza

Rest area

Love's Travel Stop

Road Ranger

Johnson Creek Rest Area 14

Black River Falls Rest Area 54

Love's Travel Stop

Petro Stopping Centers

TA

Flying J Travel Center

Pilot Travel Center

Mauston Rest Area 10

Service Plaza

Pilot Travel Center

Rest Area

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Lake Hallie, WI

Racine, WI

Same local time

6 degrees warmer at arrival

5h 14m on the road

National Parks Near This Route

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Elevation Profile

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

About the Cities

Starting in Lake Hallie, WI

Arriving in Racine, WI

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Are there national parks near this route?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

Continue From Racine, WI

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