If you are planning to travel from Madison to Racine, expect a straightforward journey covering 109.8 miles of Wisconsin landscape. This trip typically takes about 1 hour and 52 minutes, making it a perfect candidate for a single-day excursion rather than an overnight stay. You will navigate through the Midwest, transitioning from the state capital toward the shores of Lake Michigan. Budget approximately $17 for fuel to complete the trip comfortably. Because the drive is relatively short, you have plenty of flexibility to adjust your departure time to fit your personal schedule.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
52.4 miles from Madison, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
63.3 mi
1h 8m
North-South Freeway
11.9 mi
13m
Northwestern Avenue
9 mi
15m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Zoo Freeway
4 mi
5m
WI 30
3.2 mi
4m
West Johnson Street
2.2 mi
7m
East Washington Avenue
1.8 mi
4m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 63.3 mi, about 1h 8m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Madison, WI and Racine, WI.
1
Start on CTH MS
317 ft·18 sec·University Avenue
2
Turn left onto North Brooks Street
432 ft·26 sec·North Brooks Street
3
Turn left onto West Johnson Street
2.2 mi·7 min·West Johnson Street
4
Turn right onto North Baldwin Street
0.2 mi·40 sec·North Baldwin Street
5
Turn left onto US 151
1.8 mi·4 min·East Washington Avenue
6
Take the ramp
0.2 mi·31 sec
Toward WI 30 East
7
Merge onto WI 30
3.2 mi·4 min·WI 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
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.
11
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
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi·28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
13
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
4.0 mi·5 min·Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
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.
16
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
12 mi·13 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·30 sec
Exit 329Toward CTH K: Racine, CaledoniaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Turn left onto CTH K
5.1 mi·9 min·Northwestern Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
27 ft·0 sec·Northwestern Avenue
20
Continue on WI 38
3.4 mi·5 min·Northwestern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
21
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
91 ft·1 sec·Northwestern Avenue
22
Continue on WI 38
0.4 mi·34 sec·Northwestern Avenue
23
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
72 ft·4 sec·State Street
24
Continue on WI 38
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight lane.
25
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi·40 sec·Main Street
26
Turn right onto WI 20; WI 32
309 ft·17 sec·6th Street
27
Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue
284 ft·14 sec·Wisconsin Avenue
28
Turn left onto WI 20; WI 32
245 ft·8 sec·7th Street
29
Arrive at destination
WI 20; WI 32
Trip Plan
Since this is a non-stop route with no official planned stops, you should ensure your vehicle is fueled up before leaving Madison to cover the $17 estimate. Given the nature of local road travel, aim to depart during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on city streets. You have the advantage of a short duration, so there is no need to worry about splitting the drive into multiple days. Because the route relies heavily on local roads, keep your GPS updated and ready to handle the frequent turns required to reach your destination in Racine.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 52.4 miles from Madison, WI, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 23 miles or 33m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 52.4 miles or 1h 5m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 46m
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 Madison, 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 Madison, WI
This is one driving day of about 104.9 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 23 miles from Madison, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 63.3 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 71.1 and 94.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
71.1 mi into trip|~1h 26m 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
71.7 mi into trip|~1h 27m 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
72.3 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
80.8 mi into trip|~1h 40m 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
8
94.1 mi into trip|~1h 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
$16.40 one way
$32.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg37 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$18.01
$36.01
premium
$4.89
$20.19
$40.37
diesel
$5.61
$23.16
$46.32
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$16
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$41–$66
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 36.7 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $11 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
31.5
0
$11.01
$5.04
Efficient EV
26.2
0
$9.18
$4.20
EV Truck/SUV
42
0
$14.69
$6.71
Gas CO2
37 kg
EV CO2
12 kg (68% 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 16, 2026
Origin
Madison, WI
Afternoon
in Madison on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
62°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Racine, WI
Afternoon
in Racine on Tuesday
Local time
12:08 PM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Slight Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
N 5 to 10 mph15% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:12PM CDT until April 21 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 16 at 12:12PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
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
4 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
2h 15m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Prepare for a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise. You will spend 0% of your time on major highways, as the route relies on local navigation through streets like North Brooks, West Johnson, and North Baldwin. This setup requires your full attention as you transition between local road segments throughout the 109.8-mile distance. Expect a more hands-on experience behind the wheel, as the lack of highway miles means you will be navigating intersections and local traffic patterns for the duration of your trip.
84% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
29 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.3 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 71.1 miles in.
Driving Effort10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 104.9 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 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Madison, WI and Racine, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Cth K: Racine and Caledonia.
Madison, the capital of Wisconsin, is situated on an isthmus between Lake Mendota and Lake Monona. As the anchor of the Greater Madison Area, it is home to the University of Wisconsin — Madison, one of the premier universities in the United States. It is a vibrant city known for its natural beauty, vibrant cultural scene, and academic excellence. Visitors can enjoy a variety of activities such as hiking, biking, and exploring the city's many museums and art galleries. The city is also known for its diverse and delicious food options.
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.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 104.9 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (84%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.3 miles on I 94. 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 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Racine, WI before heading back.
