Medford to Milwaukee is 232.6 miles and takes about 4h 37m via I 41, US 10, and WI 29, with a fuel budget near $35 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route cuts across Wisconsin, taking you from the Midwest's heartland toward the shores of Lake Michigan. With nearly all of the trip on highways, it's a straightforward drive for getting from Point A to Point B efficiently. Plan for a single day of travel, as the estimated duration is well within a reasonable driving window.
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
116.3 miles from Medford, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
80.8 mi
1h 29m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
WI 29
33.9 mi
40m
I 39
29.8 mi
32m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
State Highway 13
11.8 mi
17m
East-West Freeway
5.7 mi
8m
WI 29 Business
1.4 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 80.8 mi, about 1h 29m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 58 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
7 AM
~5,644 veh/hr typical
Quietest
2 AM
~352 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16×
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 Medford, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on South 4th Street
0.3 mi·1 min·South 4th Street
2
Turn left onto East Perkins Street
0.2 mi·47 sec·East Perkins Street
3
Turn slight right
259 ft·9 sec
4
Turn straight onto WI 13
0.9 mi·2 min·South 8th Street
5
Continue on WI 13
12 mi·17 min·State Highway 13
6
Continue on WI 13
0.6 mi·1 min·North 4th Street
7
Turn left onto WI 29 Business
1.4 mi·2 min·WI 29 Business
8
Take the ramp
0.4 mi·49 sec
9
Merge onto WI 29
29 mi·33 min·WI 29
10
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 29
4.5 mi·6 min·WI 29
Toward US 51 South: Green Bay, MadisonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51
22 mi·24 min·I 39; US 51
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
12
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi·7 min·I 39; US 10; US 51
13
Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66
0.4 mi·57 sec·US 10; WI 66
Exit 158Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
14
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10
51 mi·1 hr·US 10
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, WaupacaUse the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
12 mi·14 min·US 45
Exit 276Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
17
Merge onto I 41; US 41
81 mi·1 hr 29 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 38A-BToward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, MadisonUse the slight right lane.
19
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi·1 min
Exit 38AToward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: MilwaukeeUse the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi·38 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
21
Merge onto I 94
4.7 mi·6 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
22
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi·1 min·East-West Freeway
Exit 310CToward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 1EToward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
24
Turn slight right
309 ft·14 sec
Toward Jackson Street SouthUse the right lane.
25
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Saint Paul Avenue
26
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Milwaukee Street
27
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 232.6-mile drive, consider an early morning departure from Medford to avoid potential afternoon traffic, especially as you get closer to Milwaukee. With a total duration of around 4.5 hours, you likely won't need more than one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. The longest stretch without significant exit activity is 80.8 miles on I 41, so plan your break before or after this segment. The estimated fuel cost is around $35, so you should have a good idea of your expenses before you even leave.
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 116.3 miles from Medford, WI, or about 2h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 80.8 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 51 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 116.3 miles or 2h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milwaukee, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Medford, 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 Medford, WI
This is one driving day of about 232.6 miles and 4h 37m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 51 miles from Medford, 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 41 for about 80.8 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 20
5 decision points cluster between mile 45 and 230.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
45 mi into trip|~1h in|WI 29
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 29 toward US 51 South: Green Bay, Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 51 South: Green Bay, Madison
8
79.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m in|US 10
Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
8
130.7 mi into trip|~2h 40m in|US 45
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 276
Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh
9
225.2 mi into trip|~4h 25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwauk...
9
230.9 mi into trip|~4h 34m in|I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$34.35 one way
$68.70 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg81 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$37.92
$75.84
premium
$4.72
$43.19
$86.37
diesel
$4.80
$43.92
$87.84
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$34
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$59–$84
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 81.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $24 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
69.8
0
$24.42
$11.16
Efficient EV
58.2
0
$20.35
$9.30
EV Truck/SUV
93
1
$32.56
$14.89
Gas CO2
81 kg
EV CO2
27 kg (67% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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
Medford, WI
Afternoon
in Medford on Sunday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
81°F
Sunny then Areas Of Smoke
N 9 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:08AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Afternoon
in Milwaukee on Sunday
Local time
12:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
85°F
Mostly Sunny
N 10 mph4% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 9:08AM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan 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 warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
4h 37m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 98% of the 232.6 miles on major roads like I 41. You'll encounter a continuous stretch of 80.8 miles on I 41, offering a consistent cruising experience. Expect a high concentration of exits and merging traffic as you approach and travel through more populated areas.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 80.8 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 10. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 45 miles in near WI 29.
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 20 significant decision points across 232.6 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 45 miles (WI 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.7 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.7 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,472 ft615 ft
Total Climb
430 ft
Total Descent
1,287 ft
Highest Point
1,472 ft
Elevation Range
857 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Medford, WI and Milwaukee, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.
Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city celebrates its heritage as a major center for beer-brewing, and of it German and Polish communities. It is now known for its many festivals.
The city's population is about 600,000 with about 1.6 million in the metropolitan area (2019). It is in the southeastern portion of the state on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
Top landmarks
•Milwaukee Art Museum — art museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
•Milwaukee City Hall — municipal office in E. Wells St. Milwaukee, United States
•Basilica of St. Josaphat — church building in Milwaukee, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 37m. Total distance: 232.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (98%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 80.8 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 7 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 Milwaukee, 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 7 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 45 miles (WI 29): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 79.7 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 130.7 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Possible but tiring. At 4.6 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Milwaukee, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
