Traveling from Stevens Point to Sussex covers 137.8 miles of Wisconsin landscape, typically requiring about 2 hours and 45 minutes of driving time. Because this journey is well within the capacity of a single day, you can easily complete it in one go without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget approximately $21 for fuel, making this a highly economical trip through the Midwest. You will rely primarily on I-41, US Highway 10, and US 45 to navigate between these two points. Since the route is straightforward and efficient, it is an ideal choice for travelers looking for a hassle-free connection between these central and southeastern Wisconsin locations.
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
68.9 miles from Stevens Point, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 23m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
56.1 mi
1h
US Highway 10
49.3 mi
57m
US 45
12.3 mi
14m
Lovers Lane
9 mi
13m
State Highway 164
4.2 mi
6m
Main Street
2.8 mi
5m
County Highway VV
1.2 mi
3m
Clark Street
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 56.1 mi, about 1h
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stevens Point, WI and Sussex, WI.
1
Start on WI 66
64 ft·9 sec·Main Street
2
Turn left onto US 51 BUS
394 ft·15 sec·Division Street
Use the straight / left lanes.
3
Turn left onto WI 66
1.0 mi·2 min·Clark Street
4
Continue on WI 66
2.8 mi·5 min·Main Street
5
Continue on US 10
49 mi·57 min·US Highway 10
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Keep slight right at fork onto US 45
12 mi·14 min·US 45
Exit 276Toward US 45 South: OshkoshUse the slight left / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
1.1 mi·1 min
Toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
8
Merge onto I 41; US 41
56 mi·1 hr·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Take the exit
474 ft·10 sec
Exit 64A-BToward WI 60: Jackson, HartfordUse the slight right lane.
10
Turn right onto WI 60
0.4 mi·48 sec·State Highway 60 East
11
Turn left onto WI 164
5.0 mi·7 min·Lovers Lane
12
Enter roundabout
119 ft·2 sec
13
Continue
521 ft·8 sec
14
Turn straight onto WI 164
3.9 mi·5 min·Lovers Lane
15
Enter roundabout onto WI 164
139 ft·2 sec·State Highway 164
16
Continue on WI 164
4.2 mi·6 min·State Highway 164
17
Turn left onto CTH VV
1.2 mi·3 min·County Highway VV
18
Turn left onto Elmwood Avenue
171 ft·9 sec·Elmwood Avenue
19
Turn right
199 ft·14 sec
20
Arrive at destination
Trip Plan
Given the 2 hour and 45 minute duration, you have plenty of flexibility to structure your departure around your personal schedule. Planning for one strategic stop along the way is a great way to break up the drive and keep your energy levels high. Since the vast majority of your route is on highways, keep a close eye on traffic patterns when merging onto I-41 to ensure your trip remains stress-free. If you are sensitive to heavy traffic, consider avoiding peak rush hours to keep your travel time closer to the estimated duration. Use the $21 fuel budget as a baseline, but remember to check your vehicle's specific efficiency to ensure you have enough for the full 137.8-mile trek.
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.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 68.9 miles from Stevens Point, WI, or about 1h 23m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56.1 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 30 miles or 38m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 68.9 miles or 1h 23m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 11m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Sussex, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stevens Point, 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 Stevens Point, WI
This is one driving day of about 137.8 miles and 2h 45m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 30 miles from Stevens Point, 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 56.1 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 132.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
0 mi into trip|~0m in|US 51 BUS / Division Street
Turn left onto US 51 BUS / Division Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
8
53.2 mi into trip|~1h 5m 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
5
66.7 mi into trip|~1h 21m in|I 41; US 41
Merge onto I 41; US 41
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
122.8 mi into trip|~2h 21m in
Take the exit toward WI 60: Jackson, Hartford
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 64A-B
Toward WI 60: Jackson, Hartford
5
132.4 mi into trip|~2h 35m in|WI 164 / State Highway 164
Enter roundabout onto WI 164 / State Highway 164
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$21.54 one way
$43.09 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg48 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.65
$47.31
premium
$4.89
$26.52
$53.04
diesel
$5.61
$30.42
$60.85
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $14 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.3
0
$14.47
$6.61
Efficient EV
34.5
0
$12.06
$5.51
EV Truck/SUV
55.1
0
$19.29
$8.82
Gas CO2
48 kg
EV CO2
16 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Stevens Point, WI
Morning
in Stevens Point on Sunday
Local time
9:46 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Sussex, WI
Morning
in Sussex on Sunday
Local time
9:46 AM
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
3 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 45m 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 highway-focused experience, as 89% of this trip is spent on major thoroughfares. The road’s personality is defined by consistent speed and efficiency rather than winding backroads or technical turns. You will encounter a significant 56.1-mile stretch on I-41, which serves as the longest uninterrupted portion of your journey. Transitioning between US highways and the interstate keeps the drive moving steadily without much variation in terrain. Behind the wheel, you should prepare for a predictable, high-speed transit that prioritizes arrival time over scenic meandering.
89% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 56.1 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US Highway 10. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near US 51 BUS / Division Street.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 2h 45m drive. You will face about 12 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 (US 51 BUS / Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.7 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. 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.
On the drive from Stevens Point, WI to Sussex, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Hartford along the way.
Hartford
122.8 mi in|~2h 21m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 45m. Total distance: 137.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
The longest stretch is about 56.1 miles on I 41. 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 (US 51 BUS / Division Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 53.2 miles (US 45): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 66.7 miles (I 41; US 41): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Sussex, WI before heading back.
