Peshtigo to Kenosha is 200 miles and takes about 3h 53m via I 43, with a fuel budget near $31 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, connecting two Midwest points. The majority of the route is highway, making it a straightforward trip. Given its short duration and highway profile, this is a good option for a single-day drive with minimal fuss. You'll find this route to be a practical way to cover ground between these two Wisconsin cities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
100 miles from Peshtigo, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 54m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
124 mi
2h 18m
US 41 Business
41.1 mi
46m
North-South Freeway
24.5 mi
27m
Burlington Road
3.6 mi
6m
Washington Road
3.3 mi
7m
French Street
1.2 mi
2m
Sheridan Road
0.9 mi
1m
8th Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 124 mi, about 2h 18m
Traffic on I-43
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 163 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,015 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,464
Quietest
2 AM
~117 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.2×
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 Peshtigo, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on CTH B; US 41 BUS
1.2 mi·2 min·French Street
2
Take the ramp onto US 41 Business
41 mi·46 min·US 41 Business
3
Take the exit
1.0 mi·2 min
Exit 170BToward I 43 South: Milwaukee
4
Continue on I 43
124 mi·2 hr 18 min·I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
0.2 mi·16 sec·North-South Freeway
6
Continue on I 94
24 mi·27 min·North-South Freeway
Exit 316-319Toward WIS 94 East, US 41: Layton Ave, College Ave, ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.2 mi·30 sec
Exit 340Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, BurlingtonUse the slight right lane.
8
Keep slight left at fork
199 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
9
Turn left onto WI 142
3.6 mi·6 min·Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Continue on CTH S
3.3 mi·7 min·Washington Road
11
Turn right onto WI 32
0.9 mi·1 min·Sheridan Road
12
Turn left onto 54th Street
305 ft·14 sec·54th Street
13
Turn right onto 8th Avenue
0.1 mi·31 sec·8th Avenue
14
Turn right onto 56th Street
43 ft·1 sec·56th Street
15
Arrive at destination
56th Street
Trip Plan
For this 200-mile drive, leaving in the morning is ideal to maximize daylight and reach Kenosha comfortably. Since it's a relatively short trip at under 4 hours, you won't need to plan for an overnight stay. The longest stretch without a major change in road type is 124 miles on I 43, so keep an eye on your fuel gauge before embarking on that segment. With only one recommended stop, you have the flexibility to pull over as needed, perhaps for a quick break or to refuel. The $31 fuel estimate suggests that gas prices are a minor consideration for this route.
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 100 miles from Peshtigo, WI, or about 1h 54m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 124 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 44 miles or 51m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 100 miles or 1h 54m 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 5m
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 Peshtigo, 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 Peshtigo, WI
This is one driving day of about 200 miles and 3h 53m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 44 miles from Peshtigo, 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 43 for about 124 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 42.3 and 200 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
42.3 mi into trip|~48m in
Take the exit toward I 43 South: Milwaukee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 170B
Toward I 43 South: Milwaukee
5
167.5 mi into trip|~3h 9m in|I 94 / North-South Freeway
Continue onto I 94 / North-South Freeway toward WIS 94 East, US 41: Layton Ave, College Ave, Chicago
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 316-319
Toward WIS 94 East, US 41: Layton Ave, College...
8
191.8 mi into trip|~3h 36m 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
192.1 mi into trip|~3h 37m 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...
5
200 mi into trip|~3h 53m in|56th Street
Turn right onto 56th Street
Navigation decision point
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.54 one way
$59.07 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg70 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$32.61
$65.21
premium
$4.72
$37.13
$74.27
diesel
$4.80
$37.76
$75.53
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 70 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $21 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
60
0
$21.00
$9.60
Efficient EV
50
0
$17.50
$8.00
EV Truck/SUV
80
0
$28.00
$12.80
Gas CO2
70 kg
EV CO2
23 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 Jul 19, 2026
Origin
Peshtigo, WI
Morning
in Peshtigo on Monday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
56°F
Smoke
N 1 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 6:49PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
Kenosha, WI
Morning
in Kenosha on Monday
Local time
6:33 AM
CDT
Current temp
67°F
Areas Of Smoke
NE 5 to 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Beach Hazards Statement
Beach Hazards Statement issued July 18 at 6:49PM CDT until July 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
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
11 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
3h 53m 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 trip is almost entirely on the highway, with 95% of the 200 miles on roads like I 43 and the North-South Freeway. You'll experience a longest stretch of 124 miles on I 43 before encountering surface roads like US 41 Business. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of the drive, with concentrated exits as you approach your destination. The transition to surface streets will be noticeable after extended highway travel.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 124 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and US 41 Business. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 42.3 miles in.
Driving Effort5/10
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 200 miles you will encounter 11 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 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 167.5 miles (I 94 / North-South Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
814 ft594 ft
Total Climb
496 ft
Total Descent
498 ft
Highest Point
814 ft
~57.2 mi in
Elevation Range
220 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Peshtigo, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Wis 94 East and Chicago.
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 3h 53m. Total distance: 200 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 53m 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 124 miles on I 43. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 12 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.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 42.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 167.5 miles (I 94 / North-South Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 191.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Possible but tiring. At 3.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 7.8 hours — manageable with a long break at Kenosha, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
