Origin
Milwaukee, WI
Morning in Milwaukee on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milwaukee, WI to Elkhorn, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
58m
Distance
46 mi
74 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$7
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 54m
★
6 AM
0h 58m
8 AM
1h 8m
10 AM
1h 2m
12 PM
1h 1m
3 PM
1h 2m
5 PM
1h 7m
8 PM
0h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Elkhorn, WI
Anete Lusina
Trip Overview
Milwaukee, WI to Elkhorn, WI is 46 miles and takes about 58 minutes via US 45, with a fuel budget near $7 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within the Midwest and Wisconsin, offering a straightforward journey. It's a quick trip, perfect for a day excursion or a short leg of a larger adventure. You'll be spending most of your time on major roadways, making for a predictable and efficient drive. Consider this a simple hop for when you need to get from point A to point B without much fuss.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 45 | 31.7 mi | 34m |
| East-West Freeway | 6.1 mi | 8m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.5 mi | 4m |
| State Highway 11 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
| East Court Street | 1.2 mi | 3m |
| North Jackson Street | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| East Wisconsin Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| North Milwaukee Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
US 45
— 31.7 mi, about 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee, WI and Elkhorn, WI.
1
Start on US 18; WI 32
45 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
2
Turn left onto East Wisconsin Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Wisconsin Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Jackson Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 794 West
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 794
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East-West Freeway
6
Continue on I 794
5.8 mi
·
8 min
·
East-West Freeway
Exit 1A
Toward I 94 West: Madison
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
26 sec
Exit 305A-B
Toward I 41, US 45, I 894: Fond du Lac, Chicago
Use the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
0.8 mi
·
1 min
Exit 305A
Toward I 41 South, I 894 South, US 45 South: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
10
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.5 mi
·
4 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit onto US 45
32 mi
·
34 min
·
US 45
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
44 sec
Exit 29
Toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
Use the slight right lane.
13
Keep slight right at fork
161 ft
·
4 sec
14
Turn right onto WI 11
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 11
15
Continue on WI 11
1.2 mi
·
3 min
·
East Court Street
16
Turn left
147 ft
·
16 sec
17
At end of road, turn left
95 ft
·
7 sec
18
Arrive at destination
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 10 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 23 miles from Milwaukee, 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 145 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 43.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0.3 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the ramp toward I 794 West
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
Toward I 794 West
8
6.7 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Take the exit toward I 41, US 45, I 894: Fond du Lac, Chicago
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, US 45, I 894: Fond du Lac, Chicago
9
6.9 mi into trip
|
~10m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 South, US 45 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 305A
Toward I 41 South, I 894 South, US 45 South: Ch...
8
11.4 mi into trip
|
~17m 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. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
Exit 4
Toward I 43 South, US 45 South: Beloit
8
43.1 mi into trip
|
~51m in
Take the exit toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
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 29
Toward WI 11: Elkhorn, Burlington
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$7.19 one way
$14.38 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
16 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $7.90 | $15.79 |
| premium | $4.89 | $8.85 | $17.70 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $10.16 | $20.31 |
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 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
| Efficient EV | 11.5 | 0 | $4.02 | $1.84 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 18.4 | 0 | $6.44 | $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.
Destination
Elkhorn, WI
Morning in Elkhorn on Sunday
Local time
9:18 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
58m 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 is primarily a highway-focused experience, with 92% of the journey utilizing major roadways. You'll encounter stretches like the East-West Freeway and Zoo Freeway before merging onto US 45. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 31.7 miles on US 45, indicating a sustained period of highway travel. Expect a consistent pace, as the road maintains its character as a high-speed corridor for the majority of the trip. This isn't a winding scenic byway, but rather a functional route designed for efficient transit.
92% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 31.7 mi on US 45.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on US 45 and East-West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.3 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 14 decision points packed into just 46 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 58m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Milwaukee, WI and Elkhorn, WI, road signs point toward Chicago and Burlington.
Chicago
6.7 mi in
|
~10m
Burlington
43.1 mi in
|
~51m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 58m. Total distance: 46 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (92%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 31.7 miles on US 45. 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 Elkhorn, 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 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 6.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 6.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Elkhorn, 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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