If you are looking to travel from Racine to Dunkirk, Wisconsin, expect a straightforward 80.1-mile trek that takes roughly 2 hours and 14 minutes to complete. This route is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, as the distance is manageable without the need for an overnight stay. You should budget approximately $12 for fuel to cover the journey. Since both locations are situated within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel as you navigate the local roads. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a practical way to connect these two Wisconsin communities.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.1 miles from Racine, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 5m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 20
16.9 mi
24m
County Highway N
11.4 mi
16m
Spring Street
8.7 mi
15m
County Road N
8 mi
19m
Washington Avenue
7.6 mi
10m
Iron Brigade Memorial Highway
7.5 mi
10m
State Highway 59
4 mi
6m
High Drive
3.9 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 20
— 16.9 mi, about 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Racine, WI and Dunkirk, WI.
1
Start on WI 20; WI 32
69 ft·10 sec·7th Street
2
Turn left onto WI 32
0.4 mi·49 sec·Main Street
3
Turn left onto WI 38
1.0 mi·1 min·State Street
Use the straight lane.
4
Enter roundabout onto Spring Street
175 ft·10 sec·Spring Street
5
Continue on Spring Street
8.7 mi·15 min·Spring Street
Use the left lane.
6
Enter roundabout onto WI 20
10 ft·0 sec·Washington Avenue
7
Continue on WI 20
4.5 mi·6 min·Washington Avenue
8
Enter roundabout onto US 45; WI 20
91 ft·5 sec·Washington Avenue
9
Continue on US 45; WI 20
1.0 mi·1 min·Washington Avenue
10
Enter roundabout onto WI 20
114 ft·2 sec·Washington Avenue
11
Continue on WI 20
2.1 mi·2 min·Washington Avenue
12
Enter roundabout onto WI 20
112 ft·6 sec·State Highway 20
13
Continue on WI 20
5.4 mi·8 min·State Highway 20
14
Continue on WI 20; WI 83
0.4 mi·55 sec·Beck Drive
15
Continue on WI 20; WI 83
0.3 mi·1 min·South 1st Street
16
At end of road, turn left onto WI 20; WI 83
1.0 mi·2 min·West Main Street
17
Continue on WI 20; WI 83
0.4 mi·44 sec·High Drive
18
Continue on WI 20
3.5 mi·4 min·High Drive
19
Continue on WI 20
4.1 mi·5 min·State Highway 20
20
Continue on WI 20
2.7 mi·5 min·North Street
21
Continue on WI 20
5.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 20
22
Continue on WI 20
1.6 mi·2 min·State Highway 20
23
Turn right onto US 12
7.5 mi·10 min·Iron Brigade Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
24
Continue on US 12; WI 59
3.7 mi·5 min·Stephen Ambrose Memorial Highway
Use the straight lane.
25
Take the exit onto Stephen Ambrose Memorial Highway
0.1 mi·20 sec·Stephen Ambrose Memorial Highway
26
Continue on CTH N
0.3 mi·32 sec·East County Road N
27
Continue on CTH N
11 mi·14 min·County Highway N
28
At end of road, turn right onto WI 59
2.5 mi·3 min·State Highway 59
29
Enter roundabout onto WI 59
156 ft·3 sec·State Highway 59
30
Continue on WI 59
423 ft·8 sec·State Highway 59
31
Enter roundabout onto WI 59
123 ft·2 sec·State Highway 59
32
Continue on WI 59
0.1 mi·13 sec·State Highway 59
33
Enter roundabout onto WI 59
152 ft·3 sec·State Highway 59
34
Continue on WI 59
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 59
35
Continue on WI 59
1.2 mi·3 min·East Fulton Street
36
Turn slight right onto Head Street
0.2 mi·46 sec·Head Street
37
Turn left onto Stoughton Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Stoughton Road
38
Continue on Stoughton Road
0.4 mi·1 min·Stoughton Road
39
Continue on CTH N
0.8 mi·1 min·County Highway N
40
Continue on CTH N
1.1 mi·2 min·County Road N
41
Continue on CTH N
6.9 mi·16 min·County Road N
42
Arrive at destination
CTH N
Trip Plan
Since this is a relatively short trip with no scheduled stops, you have plenty of flexibility to plan your departure time based on your own schedule. Keep in mind that the turn-heavy nature of the route means you should stay alert at junctions, particularly when transitioning between State Highway 20 and the various county roads. Because there are no mandatory stops built into the 80.1-mile itinerary, it is a good idea to check your fuel levels before leaving Racine to ensure you can complete the drive without needing to pull over for gas. Take advantage of the shorter duration to make this a relaxed, point-to-point journey.
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 40.1 miles from Racine, WI, or about 1h 5m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 16.9 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 18 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.1 miles or 1h 5m 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 45m
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 Racine, 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 Racine, WI
This is one driving day of about 80.1 miles and 2h 14m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Racine, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 20 for about 16.9 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WI 32 / Main Street
Turn left onto WI 32 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|WI 38 / State Street
Turn left onto WI 38 / State Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
4
1.4 mi into trip|~2m in|Spring Street
Enter roundabout onto Spring Street
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
67.7 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|WI 59 / State Highway 59
Enter roundabout onto WI 59 / State Highway 59
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
67.9 mi into trip|~1h 44m in|WI 59 / State Highway 59
Enter roundabout onto WI 59 / State Highway 59
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.52 one way
$25.05 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg28 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$13.75
$27.50
premium
$4.89
$15.41
$30.83
diesel
$5.61
$17.69
$35.37
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$13
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$38–$63
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 28 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 68% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
24
0
$8.41
$3.84
Efficient EV
20
0
$7.01
$3.20
EV Truck/SUV
32
0
$11.21
$5.13
Gas CO2
28 kg
EV CO2
9 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Racine, WI
Night
in Racine on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Dunkirk, WI
Night
in Dunkirk on Saturday
Local time
11:38 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
47°F
Burlington, WI
40 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
2 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
2h 14m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a monotonous interstate cruise on this journey. You will spend only 26% of your time on highways, making this a route that demands more active attention behind the wheel. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is a 16.9-mile segment on State Highway 20. Beyond that, the path relies heavily on County Highway N and local surface streets like Spring Street. Prepare for a road personality that favors winding local transitions over high-speed, long-distance highway travel.
Only 26% highway — the rest is turn-by-turn surface driving.
42 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 16.9 mi on State Highway 20.
How Hard Is This Drive?
3/10
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 32 / Main Street.
Driving Effort3/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 14m drive. You will face about 16 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 32 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (WI 38 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (Spring Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 14m. Total distance: 80.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 16.9 miles on State Highway 20. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: near the start (WI 32 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.4 miles (WI 38 / State Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 1.4 miles (Spring Street): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Dunkirk, WI before heading back.
