Racine, WI to Excelsior, WI is 176.1 miles and takes about 3h 56m via East-West Freeway and US Highway 14, with a fuel budget near $28 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, specifically Wisconsin, for its entirety. You'll spend most of your time on highways, making it a straightforward drive. With only one recommended stop and a duration under four hours, it’s a perfectly manageable same-day trip.
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
88 miles from Racine, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 49m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi
1h 9m
US Highway 14
27 mi
37m
State Highway 60
18.7 mi
27m
State Highway 19
16.5 mi
23m
Douglas Avenue
8.3 mi
13m
I 94
6.9 mi
7m
I 41
5.9 mi
8m
Airport Freeway
4.6 mi
6m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 164 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,390 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,998
Quietest
2 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
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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 Racine, WI and Excelsior, WI.
1
Start on WI 20; WI 32
69 ft·10 sec·7th Street
2
Turn left onto WI 32
0.7 mi·1 min·Main Street
3
Turn left onto WI 32
0.2 mi·19 sec·Hamilton Street
4
Turn right onto WI 32
8.3 mi·13 min·Douglas Avenue
Use the straight lane.
5
Continue on WI 32
1.8 mi·3 min·South Chicago Road
6
Turn straight
0.1 mi·22 sec
7
Turn left onto WI 100
4.0 mi·6 min·West Ryan Road
8
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
9
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
4.5 mi·5 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41
0.6 mi·49 sec·I 41; I 94; US 41
Exit 317Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
11
Continue on I 41; US 41
1.1 mi·1 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.6 mi·6 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41
4.2 mi·5 min·I 41; I 894; US 41
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1B-AToward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Exit 1BToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the slight left lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
17
Merge onto I 94
10 mi·11 min·East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
6.9 mi·7 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·31 sec
Exit 131Toward WI 19: Waunakee, Sun PrairieUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight left at fork
452 ft·13 sec
Toward WI 19 West: WaunakeeUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
22
Continue on WI 19; CTH CV
1.2 mi·2 min·State Highway 19
Use the straight lane.
23
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
124 ft·7 sec·WI 19
24
Continue on WI 19
2.4 mi·3 min·WI 19
25
Enter roundabout onto WI 113
123 ft·6 sec·State Highway 19
26
Continue on WI 113
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 19
27
Continue on WI 19; WI 113
1.0 mi·2 min·East Main Street
Use the straight lane.
28
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
116 ft·6 sec·West Main Street
29
Continue on WI 19
0.7 mi·1 min·West Main Street
30
Continue on WI 19
4.1 mi·5 min·State Highway 19
31
Turn right onto US 12; WI 19
1.5 mi·2 min·US 12; WI 19
32
Turn left onto WI 19
9.7 mi·13 min·State Highway 19
33
Continue on WI 78; WI 19
1.3 mi·1 min·State Highway 19/78
34
Turn slight right
0.1 mi·20 sec
35
Turn straight onto US 14
0.8 mi·1 min·US Highway 14
36
Continue on US 14
0.9 mi·1 min·East Commercial Street
37
Continue on US 14
26 mi·36 min·US Highway 14
38
Turn left onto WI 60
19 mi·27 min·State Highway 60
39
Turn right onto CTH F
3.4 mi·8 min·County Highway F
40
Turn right onto Excelsior Road
24 ft·1 sec·Excelsior Road
41
Arrive at destination
Excelsior Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of under four hours, you can easily complete this drive in a single day. Departing Racine in the morning will allow you ample time to reach Excelsior, even with an early stop. The single recommended stop is strategically placed for convenience, but you could also choose to push through if preferred. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially during the 63.8-mile stretch on the East-West Freeway, as services can be spaced further apart on highways. Aim to leave Racine by mid-morning to avoid any rush hour traffic.
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 88 miles from Racine, WI, or about 1h 49m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 39 miles or 56m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88 miles or 1h 49m 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 7m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Excelsior, 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 176.1 miles and 3h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Racine, 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 East-West Freeway for about 63.8 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 25
5 decision points cluster between mile 20 and 95.2 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
20 mi into trip|~32m in|I 41; I 94; US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 317
Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Ma...
8
26.3 mi into trip|~40m in|I 41; I 894; US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US...
8
30.5 mi into trip|~46m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
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 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
30.6 mi into trip|~46m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
9
95.2 mi into trip|~1h 57m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$29.38 one way
$58.75 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$31.93
$63.85
premium
$5.26
$36.46
$72.92
diesel
$6.18
$42.84
$85.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$29
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$54–$79
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.49
$8.45
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.41
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.65
$11.27
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 Oct 18, 2026
Origin
Racine, WI
Night
in Racine on Sunday
Local time
11:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Sunny
SW 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Excelsior, WI
Night
in Excelsior on Sunday
Local time
11:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Sunny
S 8 to 15 mph0% chanceLive 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
4 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 56m 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 route is predominantly highway driving, with 87% of the 176.1 miles on paved, high-speed roads. You'll encounter the longest continuous stretch of highway at 63.8 miles on the East-West Freeway. Expect a significant portion of the drive to be on US Highway 14, which offers a more rural cruising experience compared to the freeway. The highway portion will likely involve frequent exits and merges.
87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
41 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 63.8 mi on East-West Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and US Highway 14. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20 miles in near I 41; I 94; US 41.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 176.1 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 20 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.5 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
974 ft624 ft
Total Climb
470 ft
Total Descent
396 ft
Highest Point
974 ft
~113.2 mi in
Elevation Range
350 ft
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Racine, WI and Excelsior, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Sun Prairie.
Racine is a city of 77,000 people (2019) in Southeast Wisconsin along Lake Michigan at the mouth of the Root River. It is the county seat of Racine County.
Top landmarks
•Johnson Wax Headquarters — corporate headquarters in Racine, Wisconsin
•Thomas P. Hardy House — historic house in Wisconsin, United States
•Racine Harbor Lighthouse and Life Saving Station — lighthouse in Wisconsin, United States
Doable as a same-day drive at 3h 56m. Total distance: 176.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
3h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 63.8 miles on East-West Freeway. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 6 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 Excelsior, 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 6 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: at 20 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 30.5 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 7.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Excelsior, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
