Mosinee to Kenosha is 210.3 miles and takes about 4h 10m via I 41, with a fuel budget near $33 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to another part of the Midwest. Given its relatively short duration and highway focus, it's a straightforward drive that's easy to complete in a single day. Plan for a generally efficient travel experience with minimal complications.
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
105.1 miles from Mosinee, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
87.4 mi
1h 38m
US 10
51.3 mi
1h 1m
North-South Freeway
23.3 mi
25m
I 39
20.7 mi
22m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
Burlington Road
3.6 mi
6m
Washington Road
3.3 mi
7m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 87.4 mi, about 1h 38m
Traffic on I-41
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 67 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,046 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,595
Quietest
2 AM
~198 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
15.4×
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 Mosinee, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on CTH B
0.6 mi·1 min·Main Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn slight right onto WI 153
425 ft·18 sec·State Highway 153
3
Turn straight onto WI 153
0.2 mi·34 sec·Old Highway 51
4
Turn left onto WI 153
0.4 mi·1 min·State Highway 153
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·43 sec
Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point
6
Merge onto I 39; US 51
13 mi·14 min·I 39; US 51
7
Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51
7.4 mi·7 min·I 39; US 10; US 51
8
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
9
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.
10
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.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
12
Merge onto I 41; US 41
86 mi·1 hr 36 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
23 mi·25 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 340Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
17
Keep slight left at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
18
Turn left onto WI 142
3.6 mi·6 min·Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
19
Continue on CTH S
3.3 mi·7 min·Washington Road
20
Turn right onto WI 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Road
21
Turn left onto 54th Street
305 ft·14 sec·54th Street
22
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·8th Avenue
23
Turn right onto 56th Street
43 ft·1 sec·56th Street
24
Arrive at destination
56th Street
Trip Plan
For this 4h 10m drive, consider leaving mid-morning to allow for a relaxed start and still arrive well before evening. With only 210.3 miles, you can easily complete this in one day. You might only need one brief stop for fuel or a quick break. Watch for the transition from I 41 to other freeways as you get closer to Kenosha; pay attention to signage for US 10 and the North-South Freeway. The $33 fuel cost is a good estimate, but always check current prices before you depart.
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 105.1 miles from Mosinee, WI, or about 2h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.4 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 46 miles or 55m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 105.1 miles or 2h 3m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Kenosha, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mosinee, 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 Mosinee, WI
This is one driving day of about 210.3 miles and 4h 10m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 46 miles from Mosinee, 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 87.4 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 19
5 decision points cluster between mile 22.7 and 202.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
22.7 mi into trip|~27m 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
73.6 mi into trip|~1h 28m 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
177.5 mi into trip|~3h 26m 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
202 mi into trip|~3h 53m in
Take the exit toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, 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 340
Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington
7
202.3 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, K...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$31.06 one way
$62.11 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg74 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$34.29
$68.57
premium
$4.72
$39.05
$78.09
diesel
$4.80
$39.71
$79.42
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$31
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$56–$81
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 73.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $22 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
63.1
0
$22.08
$10.09
Efficient EV
52.6
0
$18.40
$8.41
EV Truck/SUV
84.1
1
$29.44
$13.46
Gas CO2
74 kg
EV CO2
25 kg (66% 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 Jul 16, 2026
Origin
Mosinee, WI
Morning
in Mosinee on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
88°F
Areas Of Smoke
SSE 3 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 16 at 12:44AM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Kenosha, WI
Morning
in Kenosha on Sunday
Local time
6:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
87°F
Areas Of Smoke
E 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 16 at 12:44AM CDT until July 16 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
84°F
Kiel, WI
105 mi in
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
1 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
4h 10m 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?
You'll be on the highway for about 95% of this 210.3-mile trip. The longest continuous stretch on I 41 is 87.4 miles, so expect extended periods of highway cruising. The route transitions to surface roads closer to the destination, with the North-South Freeway and US 10 likely marking the shift. You'll notice a high density of exits as you approach Kenosha.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
24 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.4 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
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 22.7 miles in near US 10.
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 19 significant decision points across 210.3 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 22.7 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.6 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.5 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,163 ft600 ft
Total Climb
337 ft
Total Descent
900 ft
Highest Point
1,163 ft
Elevation Range
563 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Mosinee, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Waupaca and Appleton.
Kenosha is Wisconsin's fourth largest city. It is in the state's southeast region. Many of its residents commute to jobs elsewhere, leading to its appellation as "Chicago's northernmost suburb."
Top landmarks
•Kenosha County Courthouse and Jail — prison in Kenosha, United States of America
•Kenosha Light — lighthouse in Wisconsin, United States
•Kenosha North Pier Light — lighthouse in Wisconsin, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 10m. Total distance: 210.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 10m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.4 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 13 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 Kenosha, 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 13 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 22.7 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 73.6 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 177.5 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 4.2 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 8.3 hours — manageable with a long break at Kenosha, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
