If you are planning a trip from New Berlin to Lima, expect a straightforward journey covering 251.8 miles across the Wisconsin landscape. You can comfortably complete this drive in approximately 4 hours and 50 minutes, making it an ideal candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of about $38, the route is economically manageable for most travelers. Since the entire drive stays within the Midwest, you will experience consistent regional surroundings throughout the journey. Because the trip is under five hours, most drivers find it unnecessary to book an overnight stay, allowing for a flexible departure and arrival schedule.
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
125.9 miles from New Berlin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 18m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
87.6 mi
1h 34m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
East-West Freeway
60.2 mi
1h 4m
US Highway 10
28.6 mi
39m
10th Street
3.5 mi
6m
South Moorland Road
3.3 mi
6m
East Main Street
2.2 mi
4m
County Highway V
1.5 mi
3m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 87.6 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between New Berlin, WI and Lima, 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
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
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.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
59 mi·1 hr 2 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 88Toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta
10
Keep slight left at fork
182 ft·6 sec
11
Turn left onto US 10
3.5 mi·6 min·10th Street
12
Continue on US 10
10 mi·13 min·US Highway 10
13
Continue on US 10
0.4 mi·1 min·Mondovi Street East
14
Continue on US 10
8.9 mi·12 min·US Highway 10
15
Continue on US 10
2.2 mi·4 min·East Main Street
16
Continue on US 10
9.7 mi·13 min·US Highway 10
17
Turn right onto CTH V
1.5 mi·3 min·County Highway V
18
Arrive at destination
CTH V
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan to incorporate at least one dedicated stop into your itinerary to break up the nearly five hours of travel. Leaving early in the day is your best strategy to avoid potential traffic congestion on major arteries like I-90 and I-94. Since the route is almost entirely highway-based, ensure your vehicle is prepped for sustained speeds before you depart. Given the $38 fuel estimate, consider topping off your tank before hitting the interstate to avoid premium highway gas prices. Since you only have one planned stop, use that time strategically to stretch your legs and refresh, as the long, monotonous stretches can be taxing on your focus.
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 125.9 miles from New Berlin, WI, or about 2h 18m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.6 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 55 miles or 1h 2m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 125.9 miles or 2h 18m 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 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Lima, 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.
+
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 New Berlin, WI
This is one driving day of about 251.8 miles and 4h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 55 miles from New Berlin, 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 87.6 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 10.6 and 215.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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.
9
64.1 mi into trip|~1h 12m 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
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 43m 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
156.7 mi into trip|~2h 51m 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
6
215.2 mi into trip|~3h 54m in
Take the exit toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 88
Toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.37 one way
$78.73 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg88 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$43.22
$86.44
premium
$4.89
$48.46
$96.91
diesel
$5.61
$55.59
$111.19
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$39
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$64–$89
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 88.1 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $26 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
75.5
0
$26.44
$12.09
Efficient EV
63
0
$22.03
$10.07
EV Truck/SUV
100.7
1
$35.25
$16.12
Gas CO2
88 kg
EV CO2
29 kg (67% 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 20, 2026
Origin
New Berlin, WI
Late night
in New Berlin on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Lima, WI
Late night
in Lima on Tuesday
Local time
5:36 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
61°F
Adams, WI
126 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
18 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
4h 50m 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 121.5
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?
This trip is heavily focused on major thoroughfares, with 95% of your travel taking place on high-speed highways. You will primarily navigate via I-94, I-90, and the East-West Freeway, providing a steady, consistent pace for the duration of the trip. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is an 87.6-mile segment on I-94, which requires sustained attention behind the wheel. Because of the heavy highway reliance, you should anticipate a fast-paced environment rather than a winding, technical drive. Expect a functional, interstate-heavy experience that prioritizes efficiency and directness over local road exploration.
95% 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: 87.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.
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 10 significant decision points across 251.8 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 10.6 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.2 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
1,022 ft787 ft
Total Climb
457 ft
Total Descent
516 ft
Highest Point
1,022 ft
~179.8 mi in
Elevation Range
234 ft
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 Lima, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Cth R: Osseo and Augusta.
Eau Claire
64.1 mi in|~1h 12m|via I 94
Saint Paul
156.7 mi in|~2h 51m|via I 94
Cth R: Osseo
215.2 mi in|~3h 54m
Augusta
215.2 mi in|~3h 54m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 50m. Total distance: 251.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 50m 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 87.6 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 Lima, 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 20 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 10.6 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.2 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.7 hours — manageable with a long break at Lima, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
