Origin
Stoughton, WI
Late night in Stoughton on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Stoughton, WI to Milwaukee, WI
Pin this tripCompiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
1h 39m
Distance
81.7 mi
131 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$13
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 32m
★
6 AM
1h 40m
8 AM
1h 55m
10 AM
1h 45m
12 PM
1h 44m
3 PM
1h 46m
5 PM
1h 54m
8 PM
1h 35m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Stoughton, WI
Tom Fisk
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Stoughton, WI to Milwaukee, WI is 81.7 miles and takes about 1h 39m via I 94 and County Highway N, with a fuel budget near $13 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, moving you from one Midwest locale to another. It's a relatively short drive, making it ideal for a same-day excursion. Expect a straightforward drive with most of your time spent on the interstate.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
40.8 miles from Stoughton, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 52m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 65.6 mi | 1h 13m |
| County Highway N | 9.9 mi | 14m |
| South Main Street | 1.8 mi | 2m |
| County Road N | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East-West Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| East Main Street | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| North Milwaukee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Saint Paul Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 65.6 mi, about 1h 13m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Stoughton, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on South 4th Street
80 ft
·
10 sec
·
South 4th Street
2
Turn left onto US 51; CTH A
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Main Street
3
Turn left onto CTH N
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Highway N
4
Continue on CTH B; CTH N
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
County Road N
5
Continue on CTH N
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
County Highway N
6
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
121 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Highway N
7
Continue on CTH N
0.2 mi
·
31 sec
·
County Highway N
8
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
83 ft
·
2 sec
·
County Highway N
9
Continue on CTH N
0.1 mi
·
17 sec
·
County Highway N
10
Enter roundabout onto CTH N
54 ft
·
1 sec
·
County Highway N
11
Continue on CTH N
4.8 mi
·
7 min
·
County Highway N
12
Continue on CTH N
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
South Main Street
13
Continue on CTH N
0.8 mi
·
1 min
·
County Highway N
14
Enter roundabout
14 ft
·
0 sec
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
15
Continue
0.4 mi
·
45 sec
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
16
Merge onto I 94
66 mi
·
1 hr 13 min
·
I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East-West Freeway
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
19
Turn slight right
309 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Jackson Street South
Use the right lane.
20
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Saint Paul Avenue
21
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
22
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Trip Plan
Given the 1h 39m duration, this is a trip you can easily complete in a single day. Aim to depart in the morning to maximize your time in Milwaukee. The fuel cost is estimated at $13, so ensure you have enough for the trip, especially if you plan on any detours. Since you'll spend most of your time on I 94, consider taking a break just before the highway portion ends to stretch your legs. The flexibility of this shorter drive means you can adjust your departure time as needed.
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 40.8 miles from Stoughton, WI, or about 52m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 65.6 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 27m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 40.8 miles or 52m 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 24m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milwaukee, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Stoughton, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Stoughton, WI
This is one driving day of about 81.7 miles and 1h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 18 miles from Stoughton, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 65.6 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
41 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.
Pacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 18 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 40.8 miles from Stoughton, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 65.6 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 125 decision points cluster between mile 6.6 and 81 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
6.6 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
6.7 mi into trip
|
~11m in
|
CTH N / County Highway N
Enter roundabout onto CTH N / County Highway N
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
6
14.1 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Enter roundabout toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
9
80 mi into trip
|
~1h 36m in
|
I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
6
81 mi into trip
|
~1h 38m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$12.77 one way
$25.55 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
29 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $14.02 | $28.05 |
| premium | $4.89 | $15.72 | $31.44 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $18.04 | $36.08 |
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: 28.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $9 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 24.5 | 0 | $8.58 | $3.92 |
| Efficient EV | 20.4 | 0 | $7.15 | $3.27 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 32.7 | 0 | $11.44 | $5.23 |
Gas CO2
29 kg
EV CO2
10 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.
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Late night in Milwaukee on Tuesday
Local time
5:21 AM
CDT
Current temp
58°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
43°F
Farmington, WI
41 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
15 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
1h 39m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
This route is predominantly highway driving, with 81% of the 81.7 miles on interstates. You'll encounter a long stretch of 65.6 miles on I 94. The transition to surface roads happens after this, leading you through local streets in Milwaukee. Be prepared for frequent exits as you approach the city.
81% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 65.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and County Highway N. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 6.6 miles in near CTH N / County Highway N.
Driving Effort
4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 1h 39m 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: at 6.6 miles (CTH N / County Highway N): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles (CTH N / County Highway N): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Elevation Profile
Mostly flat terrain
969 ft
615 ft
Total Climb
198 ft
Total Descent
462 ft
Highest Point
969 ft
~58.3 mi in
Elevation Range
354 ft
About the Cities
Starting in Stoughton, WI
Full guide →Stoughton is in Southwest Wisconsin. Stoughton is a lovely town of 13,000 located just 15 miles south of Madison. Founded in 1847 and known for its Norwegian heritage, including the famous Syttende Mai celebration of Norwegian Independence Day on May 17th. Stroll the tree-lined streets of Stoughton's historic neighborhoods and see hundreds of beautiful Victorian-era homes. Explore the community's vibrant Main Street featuring shops and galleries full of art, jewelry, antiques, and collectibles.
Arriving in Milwaukee, WI
Full guide →Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city celebrates its heritage as a major center for beer-brewing, and of it German and Polish communities. It is now known for its many festivals. The city's population is about 600,000 with about 1.6 million in the metropolitan area (2019). It is in the southeastern portion of the state on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
City content from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA 4.0) and Wikidata (CC0).
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 39m. Total distance: 81.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 39m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (81%). Straightforward navigation.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 65.6 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
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: at 6.6 miles (CTH N / County Highway N): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 6.7 miles (CTH N / County Highway N): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 14.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milwaukee, WI before heading back.
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, EIA for fuel prices, and USGS 3DEP for elevation. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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