Trip from Saint Germain, WI to Racine, WI

Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

5h 58m

Distance

293.1 mi

472 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$46

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 39 min

4 AM

5h 45m ★

6 AM

5h 58m

8 AM

6h 24m

10 AM

6h 7m

12 PM

6h 5m

3 PM

6h 9m

5 PM

6h 23m

8 PM

5h 51m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Saint Germain, WI

Eduardo Reiser

city in and county seat of Racine County, Wisconsin, United States

Racine, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

Traveling from Saint Germain to Racine covers 293.1 miles across the heart of Wisconsin. You can expect to spend about 5 hours and 58 minutes behind the wheel, making this a manageable, albeit long, day trip for most drivers. With a total estimated fuel cost of $45, the journey is relatively budget-friendly for a cross-state trek. The route relies heavily on US 51, US 10, and I-41 to move you efficiently between the Northwoods and the Lake Michigan shore. Since the drive is under six hours, you can easily complete it in a single day, though planning for one well-timed stop is recommended to keep your energy levels up.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

146.5 miles from Saint Germain, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 3m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 41	87.4 mi	1h 38m
US 51	64.4 mi	1h 18m
US 10	51.3 mi	1h 1m
I 39	29.8 mi	32m
US 45	12.3 mi	14m
North-South Freeway	11.9 mi	13m
Northwestern Avenue	9 mi	15m
County Road D	7.6 mi	12m

Longest stretch: I 41 — 87.4 mi, about 1h 38m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Saint Germain, WI and Racine, WI.

Start on WI 70

0.1 mi · 15 sec · State Highway 70

Turn right onto Parkway Road

0.1 mi · 29 sec · Parkway Road

At end of road, turn right onto CTH J

4.4 mi · 7 min · County Road J

Turn left onto CTH E

3.9 mi · 6 min · County Highway E

Continue on CTH D

3.0 mi · 5 min · County Highway D

Turn left onto WI 47; CTH D

0.6 mi · 52 sec · Bradley Street

Turn right onto CTH D

7.6 mi · 12 min · County Road D

At end of road, turn left onto US 51

64 mi · 1 hr 18 min · US 51

Use the straight lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51

22 mi · 24 min · I 39; US 51

Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

Continue on I 39; US 10; US 51

7.4 mi · 7 min · I 39; US 10; US 51

Take the exit onto US 10; WI 66

0.4 mi · 57 sec · US 10; WI 66

Exit 158 Toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10

51 mi · 1 hr · US 10

Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45

12 mi · 14 min · US 45

Exit 276 Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

1.1 mi · 1 min

Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee

Merge onto I 41; US 41

86 mi · 1 hr 36 min · I 41; US 41

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 41; US 41

Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

12 mi · 13 min · North-South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 30 sec

Exit 329 Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Turn left onto CTH K

5.1 mi · 9 min · Northwestern Avenue

Use the left / straight lanes.

Enter roundabout onto WI 38

27 ft · 0 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Continue on WI 38

3.4 mi · 5 min · Northwestern Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto WI 38

91 ft · 1 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Continue on WI 38

0.4 mi · 34 sec · Northwestern Avenue

Enter roundabout onto WI 38

72 ft · 4 sec · State Street

Continue on WI 38

1.0 mi · 1 min · State Street

Use the straight lane.

Turn right onto WI 32

0.3 mi · 40 sec · Main Street

Turn right onto WI 20; WI 32

309 ft · 17 sec · 6th Street

Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue

284 ft · 14 sec · Wisconsin Avenue

Turn left onto WI 20; WI 32

245 ft · 8 sec · 7th Street

Arrive at destination

WI 20; WI 32

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 293.1-mile journey, try to depart early in the morning to beat the heaviest traffic as you near your destination. Since you only have one planned stop, choose a location that allows you to refuel and stretch your legs comfortably before tackling the final leg of the drive. Keep in mind that your fuel costs will hover around $45, so monitoring your tank during the stretches on US 51 and US 10 is a smart move. Because this route is entirely within Wisconsin, you will not have to worry about changing regional road laws, giving you more flexibility to focus on your pace and arrival time.

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 146.5 miles from Saint Germain, WI, or about 3h 3m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.4 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 64 miles or 1h 27m in

Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.

Halfway reset

Around 146.5 miles or 3h 3m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 50m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Racine, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Saint Germain, 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 Saint Germain, WI

This is one driving day of about 293.1 miles and 5h 58m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 64 miles from Saint Germain, 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 41 for about 87.4 miles.

Where to Stop

Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.

city in Portage County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Stevens Point, WI

147 mi into the route

Best for: Lunch, fuel, and a longer reset

This sits close to the middle of the route, so it works well for the longest stop of the day.

Popular next leg

Stevens Point, WI to Racine, WI

181.1 mi · 3h 38m

Pacing Suggestions

Merrill, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 64 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Black Creek, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 146.5 miles from Saint Germain, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.4 miles.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Nearby Places

Restaurants, cafes, gas stations and more along your route.

Top Coffee Stop

Blüm Coffee Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Greenfield, Wisconsin

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 272.1

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14142824220

Visit website

Blüm Coffee Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

2.8 mi from route ~7 min detour $10 to $20 mile 272.1

Greenfield, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14142824220

Visit website

Lake Emily County Park

4.4 ★ ★ ★ ★ ☆

Around the midpoint, right off the route

0.3 mi from route ~1 min detour mile 125.6

Amherst Junction, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+17158243175

Visit website

George Street Park

4.5 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Early in the drive, short detour

2.2 mi from route ~6 min detour mile 83.7

Rothschild, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–11 pm

+17153593660

Visit website

Franklin Woods Nature Center Pavilion

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

3.2 mi from route ~8 min detour mile 272.1

Franklin, Wisconsin

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+14147452760

Visit website

Lake Nokomis Cranberries, Inc.

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the start, ~11 min detour

4.6 mi from route ~11 min detour

Eagle River, WI

Hours: 10 am–4 pm

+17154796546

Visit website

Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 26

5 decision points cluster between mile 84.1 and 282.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

84.1 mi into trip | ~1h 51m in | I 39; US 51

Keep slight left at fork onto I 39; US 51 toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point,...

114.3 mi into trip | ~2h 24m in | US 10

Keep slight right at fork onto US 10 toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca

165.2 mi into trip | ~3h 25m in | US 45

Keep slight right at fork onto US 45 toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left / slight right lanes. Exit 276 Toward US 45 South: Oshkosh

269 mi into trip | ~5h 23m in | I 41; US 41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

282.3 mi into trip | ~5h 38m in

Take the exit toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 329 Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$45.82 one way

$91.65 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 103 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.36	$50.31	$100.62
premium	$4.89	$56.40	$112.81
diesel	$5.61	$64.71	$129.43

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$46

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$71–$96

Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.

Estimated CO2 emission: 102.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $31 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	87.9	1	$30.78	$14.07
Efficient EV	73.3	0	$25.65	$11.72
EV Truck/SUV	117.2	1	$41.03	$18.76

Gas CO2

103 kg

EV CO2

34 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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

Saint Germain, WI

Evening in Saint Germain on Saturday

Local time

8:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Racine, WI

Evening in Racine on Saturday

Local time

8:11 PM

CDT

Current temp

46°F

Unavailable

Live 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

15 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

5h 58m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.

What kind of drive is this?

This is a highway-focused drive, with 89% of your time spent on major thoroughfares. You will find yourself settling into a steady rhythm as you navigate the transition from northern corridors to the more heavily traveled southern interstates. A significant portion of your stamina will be tested on the longest stretch of the trip, which spans 87.4 miles along I-41. While the road is designed for efficiency rather than technical complexity, the landscape evolves noticeably as you leave the quieter northern regions and merge into the busier traffic patterns approaching the Racine area.

89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.

31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.

Longest single stretch: 87.4 mi on I 41.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 51. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 84.1 miles in near I 39; US 51.

Driving Effort 9/10

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 26 significant decision points across 293.1 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 84.1 miles (I 39; US 51): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 114.3 miles (US 10): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 165.2 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.

Between Saint Germain, WI and Racine, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Waupaca and Appleton.

Madison

84.1 mi in | ~1h 51m | via I 39; US 51

Waupaca

113.9 mi in | ~2h 23m | via US 10; WI 66

Appleton

113.9 mi in | ~2h 23m | via US 10; WI 66

Who Is This Route For?

Weekend Trip

Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 293.1 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (89%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 87.4 miles on I 41. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.

We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.

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 Racine, 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. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.

Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 11.9 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Racine, WI before the return drive.

How this page is built

Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.

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Return Trip

Racine, WI to Saint Germain, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

290.7 mi 5h 57m

Explore more options from Saint Germain, WI or browse trips ending in Racine, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.

Trip from Saint Germain, WI to Racine, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Nearby Places

Blüm Coffee Garden

Blüm Coffee Garden

Lake Emily County Park

George Street Park

Franklin Woods Nature Center Pavilion

Lake Nokomis Cranberries, Inc.

Heads-up: tricky spots

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Saint Germain, WI

Racine, WI

Same local time

15 degrees cooler at arrival

5h 58m on the road

What kind of drive is this?

How Hard Is This Drive?

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

Who Is This Route For?

Frequently Asked Questions

Which road carries most of the drive?

Are there rest areas on this route?

Should I avoid arriving after dark?

Is this a good trip with kids?

Where does this route get tricky?

Can I do this as a round trip in one go?

How this page is built

Explore More

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