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Trip from Mequon, WI to Burlington, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 11m

Distance

45.9 mi

74 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$7

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 17 min
4 AM
1h 6m ★
6 AM
1h 12m
8 AM
1h 23m
10 AM
1h 16m
12 PM
1h 15m
3 PM
1h 16m
5 PM
1h 23m
8 PM
1h 8m

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

fourth-class city in Ozaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

Mequon, WI

Wikimedia Commons

fourth-class city in Racine County, Wisconsin, United States

Burlington, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Mequon to Burlington is 45.9 miles and takes about 1 hour 11 minutes via Zoo Freeway and State Highway 36, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to the Midwest region, and is a straightforward, same-day excursion. You'll experience a mixed drive, meaning it's not entirely highway or entirely local roads, offering a bit of variety without being overly complex. Consider this route if you're looking for a short, easy drive with minimal fuss, perfect for a quick getaway or a connector between points in southeastern Wisconsin.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
Zoo Freeway 13.7 mi 18m
State Highway 36 7.3 mi 10m
Milwaukee Avenue 6.3 mi 10m
West Loomis Road 6.1 mi 8m
US 45 5.7 mi 10m
North Swan Road 1.8 mi 3m
North 124th Street 1.3 mi 2m
West Brown Deer Road 1 mi 1m
Longest stretch: Zoo Freeway — 13.7 mi, about 18m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Mequon, WI and Burlington, WI.

1

Start on this road

0.1 mi · 43 sec · this road
2

At end of road, turn right onto North Swan Road

1.8 mi · 3 min · North Swan Road
3

Turn right onto West County Line Road

1.0 mi · 1 min · West County Line Road
4

Turn left onto CTH F

0.9 mi · 1 min · North 107th Street
5

Turn right onto WI 100

1.0 mi · 1 min · West Brown Deer Road
6

Turn left onto WI 145

1.3 mi · 2 min · North 124th Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
7

Take the ramp

0.4 mi · 53 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 Use the left lane.
8

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45; WI 100

14 mi · 18 min · Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9

Take the exit onto US 45

0.8 mi · 1 min · US 45
Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
10

Take the exit onto US 45

0.2 mi · 22 sec · US 45
Exit 60 Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street Use the straight / slight left lanes.
11

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

4.7 mi · 9 min · US 45
Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South Use the slight right lane.
12

Turn right onto US 45; WI 36

6.1 mi · 8 min · West Loomis Road
13

Continue on WI 36

7.3 mi · 10 min · State Highway 36
14

Continue on WI 36

2.5 mi · 3 min · Milwaukee Avenue
15

Keep slight right at fork onto Milwaukee Avenue

3.8 mi · 6 min · Milwaukee Avenue
16

Turn left onto North Pine Street

0.2 mi · 25 sec · North Pine Street
17

Turn right onto East Jefferson Street

256 ft · 11 sec · East Jefferson Street
18

Arrive at destination

East Jefferson Street

Where to Stop

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

Downtown Franklin, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Franklin, WI

23 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

Butler, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Franklin, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 22.9 miles from Mequon, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 12

5 decision points cluster between mile 6.1 and 21.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

6
6.1 mi into trip | ~11m in

Take the ramp toward I 41 South, US 45

Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the left lane. Toward I 41 South, US 45
5
6.5 mi into trip | ~12m in | I 41; US 41; US 45; WI 100 / Zoo Freeway

Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45; WI 100 / Zoo Freeway

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
20.2 mi into trip | ~31m in | US 45

Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit

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

Exit 4 Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
21 mi into trip | ~32m in | US 45

Take the exit onto US 45 toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street

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

Use the straight / slight left lanes. Exit 60 Toward US 45, WI 100: 108th Street
8
21.2 mi into trip | ~33m in | US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward WI 100 South, US 45 South

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight right lane. Toward WI 100 South, US 45 South

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$7.18 one way

$14.35 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 16 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $7.88 $15.76
premium $4.89 $8.83 $17.67
diesel $5.61 $10.13 $20.27

No toll roads detected on this route.

Drive Cost (one way)

Fuel

$7

Estimated CO2 emission: 16.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $5 in charging · 0 stops · 69% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 13.8 0 $4.82 $2.20
Efficient EV 11.5 0 $4.02 $1.84
EV Truck/SUV 18.4 0 $6.43 $2.94

Gas CO2

16 kg

EV CO2

5 kg (69% 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 20, 2026

Origin

Mequon, WI

Late night in Mequon on Tuesday

Local time

4:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Burlington, WI

Late night in Burlington on Tuesday

Local time

4:19 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

58°F

Franklin, WI

23 mi in

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 warmer at arrival

A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.

Road read

1h 11m on the road

Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This drive features a 58% highway share, so expect a good portion of your journey to be on faster roads like the Zoo Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 13.7 miles on the Zoo Freeway, offering a chance to settle into a steady pace. As you transition to State Highway 36 and Milwaukee Avenue, the character will likely shift, potentially becoming more suburban or semi-rural. This mixed profile means you'll get a taste of both efficient highway travel and more local road cruising, making the 1 hour and 11-minute duration feel dynamic.

58% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 13.7 mi on Zoo Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

7/10

This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 6.1 miles in.

Driving Effort 7/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 45.9 miles you will encounter 12 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45; WI 100 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 11m. Total distance: 45.9 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 11m drive, comfortable solo distance.

EV Driver

0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (58%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 13.7 miles on Zoo Freeway. 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 Burlington, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.

Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.

The main spots that need attention: at 6.1 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.5 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45; WI 100 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Burlington, WI before heading back.

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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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