New Berlin, WI to Portage, WI is 98.2 miles and takes about 1h 49m via East-West Freeway and I-94, with a fuel budget near $16 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, making it a straightforward hop for locals or those passing through the region. Given its short duration and highway focus, this route is ideal for a same-day trip, offering minimal fuss. You'll find it's a practical choice for getting from point A to point B without significant detours or time commitments.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
49.1 miles from New Berlin, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 56m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
60.2 mi
1h 4m
I 94
29.1 mi
31m
South Moorland Road
3.3 mi
6m
I 39
3 mi
3m
State Highway 33
1.8 mi
2m
West National Avenue
<0.1 mi
<1m
West Cook Street
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 60.2 mi, about 1h 4m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 100 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,566 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,135
Quietest
1 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
21×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 New Berlin, WI and Portage, 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 right at fork onto I 39
0.2 mi·14 sec·I 39
Exit 108A; 108BToward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, WausauUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 39
2.8 mi·2 min·I 39
Exit 108BToward I 39 North: Portage, Wausau
9
Take the exit
0.3 mi·33 sec
Exit 87Toward WI 33, I 90 Alternate: Portage
10
Turn right onto WI 33
1.8 mi·2 min·State Highway 33
11
Arrive at destination
WI 33
Trip Plan
For this 1 hour and 49-minute drive, you can easily depart any time of day and complete it within daylight hours. Since it's a short trip with a fuel cost estimated at $16, you won't need to worry extensively about finding fuel stops. The longest stretch is over 60 miles on the East-West Freeway, so plan for that segment if you need a break before reaching Portage. Given the minimal driving time, you have the flexibility to stop for a quick meal or stretch as needed without significantly impacting your arrival time.
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 49.1 miles from New Berlin, WI, or about 56m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.2 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 22 miles or 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 49.1 miles or 56m 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 29m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Portage, 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 98.2 miles and 1h 49m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 22 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 60.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
The midpoint is around 49.1 miles from New Berlin, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before East-West Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 60.2 miles.
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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 3.9 and 96.2 — 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.
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...
9
93.2 mi into trip|~1h 43m in|I 39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39 toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Portage, Wausau
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 108A; 108B
Toward WI 78 South, I 39 North: Merrimac, Porta...
6
96.2 mi into trip|~1h 46m in
Take the exit toward WI 33, I 90 Alternate: Portage
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 87
Toward WI 33, I 90 Alternate: Portage
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$15.22 one way
$30.45 round trip
$3.94/gal25.4 MPG avg34 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.32
$16.69
$33.39
premium
$4.93
$19.05
$38.10
diesel
$5.60
$21.65
$43.29
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$15
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$40–$65
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 34.4 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-08-31.
Driving Electric?
About $10 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
29.5
0
$10.31
$4.71
Efficient EV
24.6
0
$8.59
$3.93
EV Truck/SUV
39.3
0
$13.75
$6.28
Gas CO2
34 kg
EV CO2
11 kg (68% 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 Aug 30, 2026
Origin
New Berlin, WI
Morning
in New Berlin on Friday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
84°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 10 to 15 mph58% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 10:10AM CDT until August 30 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 2:44AM CDT until August 30 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Destination
Portage, WI
Morning
in Portage on Friday
Local time
9:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
83°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 10 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 10:10AM CDT until August 30 at 5:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued August 30 at 2:44AM CDT until August 30 at 10:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
80°F
Cottage Grove, WI
49 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
1h 49m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
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 drive is predominantly highway, with 96% of the 98.2 miles covered on major roadways like the East-West Freeway and I-94. You'll experience a long stretch of 60.2 miles on the East-West Freeway, indicating a consistent cruising experience. The transition to surface roads will occur later in the trip, likely closer to your destination in Portage. Expect a steady pace with fewer interruptions during the bulk of the travel.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
11 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.2 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and I 94. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 3.9 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 98.2 miles you will encounter 8 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
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 64.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
994 ft794 ft
Total Climb
299 ft
Total Descent
423 ft
Highest Point
994 ft
~84.2 mi in
Elevation Range
200 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 Portage, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire and Wausau.
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 49m. Total distance: 98.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 49m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.2 miles on East-West Freeway. 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 Portage, 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 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 64.1 miles (I 94): 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 Portage, WI before heading back.
