This 269.6-mile drive from Milwaukee, WI to Red Cedar, WI is a straightforward, highway-focused journey that can easily be completed in a single day, taking approximately 5 hours and 5 minutes. With 98% of the route on main roads like I-94 and I-90, you'll spend most of your time on the interstate. The estimated fuel cost for this trip is around $42, making it an economical option for exploring the Midwest. This route is ideal if you're looking for an efficient way to travel between these two Wisconsin points without significant detours.
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
134.8 miles from Milwaukee, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
111 mi
1h 59m
East-West Freeway
70.9 mi
1h 19m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
State Highway 85
16.4 mi
23m
State Highway 37
2.5 mi
3m
County Road H
2.5 mi
3m
County Road MM
1.1 mi
2m
50th Avenue
0.4 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 111 mi, about 1h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee, WI and Red Cedar, 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 WestUse the straight / slight right / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 794
0.2 mi·21 sec·East-West Freeway
6
Continue on I 794
17 mi·21 min·East-West Freeway
Exit 1AToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
82 mi·1 hr 27 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
11
Take the exit
0.3 mi·48 sec
Exit 65Toward WI 37: Eau Claire, Mondovi
12
Turn left onto WI 37
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 37
Use the straight lane.
13
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·27 sec
14
Turn straight onto WI 85
5.6 mi·7 min·State Highway 85
Use the straight lane.
15
Continue on WI 85; CTH H
2.5 mi·3 min·County Road H
16
Turn straight onto WI 85
11 mi·16 min·State Highway 85
17
Turn right onto CTH MM
1.1 mi·2 min·County Road MM
18
Continue on 10th Avenue
0.3 mi·45 sec·10th Avenue
19
Turn right onto 50th Avenue
0.4 mi·1 min·50th Avenue
20
Arrive at destination
50th Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 5-hour duration, departing Milwaukee in the morning will allow you to reach Red Cedar by the afternoon, leaving ample time for your destination activities. You'll have one primary stop opportunity along the way to break up the 111-mile stretch on I-94. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially during the longer interstate segments, and budget approximately $42 for gas. This route's efficiency means you have flexibility; consider an early start to maximize your day.
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 134.8 miles from Milwaukee, WI, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 111 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.8 miles or 2h 28m 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 1m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Red Cedar, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee, WI
This is one driving day of about 269.6 miles and 5h 5m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Milwaukee, 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 111 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.3 and 164.1 — 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
6
18 mi into trip|~23m in|I 94 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
71.5 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
6
100.6 mi into trip|~1h 52m in|I 90; I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
164.1 mi into trip|~3h in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight lane.
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.15 one way
$84.30 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$46.28
$92.56
premium
$4.89
$51.88
$103.76
diesel
$5.61
$59.52
$119.05
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$42
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$67–$92
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 94.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.9
0
$28.31
$12.94
Efficient EV
67.4
0
$23.59
$10.78
EV Truck/SUV
107.8
1
$37.74
$17.25
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
32 kg (66% 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Milwaukee, WI
Evening
in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Red Cedar, WI
Evening
in Red Cedar on Saturday
Local time
8:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
3 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
5h 5m 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 130.1
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a highway-centric experience on this route, with 98% of the drive utilizing major interstates like I-94 and I-90, as well as the East-West Freeway. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 111 miles on I-94, so be prepared for sustained periods of steady driving. This profile suggests a focus on covering distance rather than experiencing varied terrain or winding country roads. The journey is designed for efficiency, meaning you'll primarily be on well-maintained, high-speed roadways.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 111 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 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 Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 14 significant decision points across 269.6 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 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.5 miles (I 94): 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.
Between Milwaukee, WI and Red Cedar, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire, Saint Paul and Mondovi.
Eau Claire
71.5 mi in|~1h 21m|via I 94
Saint Paul
164.1 mi in|~3h|via I 94
Mondovi
245.9 mi in|~4h 28m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 5m. Total distance: 269.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 5m 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 111 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Red Cedar, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.3 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 18 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 71.5 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 5.1 hours each way, a round trip means 10.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Red Cedar, WI before the return drive.
