Random Lake to Kenosha is 75.1 miles and takes about 1 hour 40 minutes via State Highway 57 and the North-South Freeway, with a fuel budget near $12 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This is a straightforward, highway-focused drive primarily within Wisconsin's Midwest region. You'll spend most of your time on well-maintained roads, making it a convenient option for a quick trip. The relatively short distance and clear route suggest a predictable journey, ideal if you're looking for efficiency. Consider this drive when you need a simple, direct path between these two Wisconsin points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
37.6 miles from Random Lake, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 50m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
State Highway 57
40.9 mi
52m
North-South Freeway
24.5 mi
27m
Burlington Road
3.6 mi
6m
Washington Road
3.3 mi
7m
County Highway K
1.2 mi
2m
Sheridan Road
0.9 mi
1m
Butler Street
0.3 mi
<1m
8th Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
State Highway 57
— 40.9 mi, about 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Random Lake, WI and Kenosha, WI.
1
Start on 3rd Street
203 ft·11 sec·3rd Street
2
Turn right onto Butler Street
0.3 mi·56 sec·Butler Street
3
Continue on CTH K
1.2 mi·2 min·County Highway K
4
Turn right onto WI 57
41 mi·52 min·State Highway 57
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
Given the 1 hour 40 minute duration, this trip is easily manageable in a single day. Leaving in the morning or early afternoon will give you plenty of time to reach your destination without feeling rushed. Since the longest stretch is over 40 miles, plan for a convenient fuel stop before you depart Random Lake, as dedicated rest areas might be spaced out. The $12 fuel cost estimate is quite low, suggesting good fuel efficiency for your vehicle on this particular route. With minimal planned stops, you have the flexibility to depart at your leisure and arrive without pressure.
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 37.6 miles from Random Lake, WI, or about 50m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 40.9 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 17 miles or 23m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 37.6 miles or 50m 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 20m
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 Random Lake, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Random Lake, WI
This is one driving day of about 75.1 miles and 1h 40m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 17 miles from Random Lake, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on State Highway 57 for about 40.9 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 11
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 67.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|Butler Street
Turn right onto Butler Street
Navigation decision point
6
1.5 mi into trip|~4m in|WI 57 / State Highway 57
Turn right onto WI 57 / State Highway 57
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
42.6 mi into trip|~56m 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
66.9 mi into trip|~1h 23m 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
67.1 mi into trip|~1h 24m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.74 one way
$23.48 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg26 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$12.89
$25.78
premium
$4.89
$14.45
$28.90
diesel
$5.61
$16.58
$33.16
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$12
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$37–$62
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 26.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $8 in charging
· 0 stops
· 65% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
22.5
0
$7.89
$3.60
Efficient EV
18.8
0
$6.57
$3.00
EV Truck/SUV
30
0
$10.51
$4.81
Gas CO2
26 kg
EV CO2
9 kg (65% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Random Lake, WI
Afternoon
in Random Lake on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Kenosha, WI
Afternoon
in Kenosha on Sunday
Local time
12:28 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Cloudy
W 15 mph10% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 5:41AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 5:27AM CDT until April 19 at 11:31PM 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
18 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 40m 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 a highway-focused drive, with 87% of it utilizing major freeways and state highways. You'll encounter a significant uninterrupted stretch of 40.9 miles on State Highway 57, offering a consistent pace. The overall feel is one of smooth travel on established roadways, minimizing complex navigation. Expect a predictable driving experience as you transition from State Highway 57 to the North-South Freeway and then onto Burlington Road. This setup is designed for efficient transit rather than winding scenic exploration.
87% 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: 40.9 mi on State Highway 57.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on State Highway 57 and North-South Freeway. You will hit about 11 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near Butler Street.
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 75.1 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: near the start (Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (WI 57 / State Highway 57): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (I 94 / North-South Freeway): Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Random Lake, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Wis 94 East, Chicago, Cth S: Kenosha, Burlington and Cth S East: Gateway Technical College.
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."
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 40m. Total distance: 75.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 40m 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 40.9 miles on State Highway 57. 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 Kenosha, 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: near the start (Butler Street): Navigation decision point; at 1.5 miles (WI 57 / State Highway 57): Lane positioning matters here; at 42.6 miles (I 94 / North-South Freeway): 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 Kenosha, WI before heading back.
