If you are planning a quick excursion through Wisconsin, the 76.1-mile journey from New Berlin to Dunkirk is an efficient choice. You can expect a total drive time of approximately 1 hour and 33 minutes, making this an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budgeting around $12 for fuel should comfortably cover your travel costs for this Midwest transit. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, ensuring a straightforward path between these two points. Since the entire trip takes place within the state, you won't need to worry about changing travel regulations or regional logistics. It is a practical, no-nonsense drive that gets you from point A to point B without unnecessary complexity.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
38.1 miles from New Berlin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 44m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
55.9 mi
59m
County Highway N
10 mi
14m
South Moorland Road
3.3 mi
6m
County Road N
3.3 mi
6m
North Main Street
1.8 mi
2m
Veterans Road
0.9 mi
1m
West National Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 55.9 mi, about 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Berlin, WI and Dunkirk, WI.
1
Start on West National Avenue
69 ft·1 sec·West National Avenue
2
Turn sharp right onto CTH O
3.3 mi·6 min·South Moorland Road
3
Take the ramp
0.6 mi·1 min
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
4
Merge onto I 94
6.7 mi·7 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
49 mi·52 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi·36 sec
Exit 244Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage GroveUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
200 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
8
Continue on CTH N
511 ft·8 sec·County Highway N
9
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
90 ft·1 sec·County Highway N
10
Continue on CTH N
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway N
11
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi·2 min·North Main Street
12
Continue on CTH N
4.8 mi·6 min·County Highway N
13
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
188 ft·4 sec·County Highway N
14
Continue on CTH N
0.1 mi·11 sec·County Highway N
15
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
160 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
16
Continue on CTH N
0.2 mi·27 sec·County Highway N
17
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
138 ft·3 sec·County Highway N
18
Continue on CTH N
2.4 mi·3 min·County Highway N
19
Continue on CTH B; CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Road N
20
Continue on CTH N
1.5 mi·2 min·County Highway N
21
Continue on CTH N; CTH A
0.9 mi·1 min·Veterans Road
22
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi·4 min·County Road N
23
Arrive at destination
CTH N
Trip Plan
Because this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility when it comes to your departure time. Aim to leave during off-peak hours to avoid potential congestion on the East-West Freeway, which carries the bulk of your travel time. Since the entire 76.1-mile route is designed to be completed in one go, there is no need to plan for intermediate rest stops unless you prefer a break. Keep a close eye on your fuel gauge before merging onto the freeway, as finding a convenient station is easiest while still within the New Berlin area. Prioritize a steady pace once you hit the 55.9-mile freeway stretch to make the most of your travel window.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 38.1 miles from New Berlin, WI, or about 44m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 55.9 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 17 miles or 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 38.1 miles or 44m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 15m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Dunkirk, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving New Berlin, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from New Berlin, WI
This is one driving day of about 76.1 miles and 1h 33m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from New Berlin, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on East-West Freeway for about 55.9 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 10
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 60.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
3.9 mi into trip|~7m in|I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
10.6 mi into trip|~14m 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.
8
59.8 mi into trip|~1h 7m in
Take the exit toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 244
Toward CTH N: Sun Prairie, Cottage Grove
5
60.1 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
60.3 mi into trip|~1h 8m in|CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.90 one way
$23.79 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg27 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.06
$26.13
premium
$4.89
$14.64
$29.29
diesel
$5.61
$16.80
$33.60
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.8
0
$7.99
$3.65
Efficient EV
19
0
$6.66
$3.04
EV Truck/SUV
30.4
0
$10.65
$4.87
Gas CO2
27 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (67% 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
New Berlin, WI
Late night
in New Berlin on Tuesday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dunkirk, WI
Late night
in Dunkirk on Tuesday
Local time
4:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
62°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
21 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 33m 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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is defined by a highway-focused profile, with about 73% of your journey spent on high-speed roads. You will settle into a rhythm quickly, as the longest uninterrupted stretch covers 55.9 miles along the East-West Freeway. Beyond the freeway, your path transitions onto South Moorland Road and County Highway N to reach your final destination. Expect a consistent, fast-paced experience rather than a leisurely backroads cruise. Staying attentive during the heavy freeway segments is key, as the character of the drive remains functional and direct for the vast majority of the 1 hour and 33 minutes behind the wheel.
73% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
23 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 55.9 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and County Highway N. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 33m drive. You will face about 10 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.9 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 New Berlin, WI and Dunkirk, WI, road signs point toward Cth N: Sun Prairie and Cottage Grove.
Cth N: Sun Prairie
59.8 mi in|~1h 7m
Cottage Grove
59.8 mi in|~1h 7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 33m. Total distance: 76.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 55.9 miles on East-West Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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 3.9 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 10.6 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 59.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 Dunkirk, WI before heading back.
