This 141.7-mile trip from Waterford to De Pere, Wisconsin, is a manageable one-day drive, taking about 2 hours and 50 minutes. With 88% of the route on highways, it's a straightforward journey primarily utilizing I-43 and the North-South Freeway. The estimated fuel cost is around $22, making it an economical option for a quick getaway within the Midwest. This route is well-suited for a single day of travel, allowing you to reach your destination without needing an overnight stop. The overall feel is that of a focused highway drive connecting two points in Wisconsin.
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
70.8 miles from Waterford, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
87.8 mi
1h 34m
North-South Freeway
26.5 mi
33m
Loomis Road
10.1 mi
14m
State Highway 36
6.5 mi
8m
WI 172
2.7 mi
3m
West Loomis Road
2.2 mi
3m
Riverside Drive
1.2 mi
1m
North Broadway
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 87.8 mi, about 1h 34m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waterford, WI and De Pere, WI.
1
Start on South River Street
52 ft·4 sec·South River Street
2
Turn right onto WI 20; WI 83
0.8 mi·2 min·West Main Street
3
Turn left onto WI 36
6.5 mi·8 min·State Highway 36
4
Continue on WI 36
10 mi·14 min·Loomis Road
5
Continue on WI 36
2.2 mi·3 min·West Loomis Road
Use the right lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·34 sec
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 SouthUse the right lane.
7
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
0.8 mi·1 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43
1.1 mi·1 min·I 43
Exit 10AToward I 43, I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 94
27 mi·33 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Continue on I 43; WI 57
87 mi·1 hr 32 min·I 43; WI 57
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
1.1 mi·2 min
Exit 180Toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
12
Continue on WI 172
2.7 mi·3 min·WI 172
13
Take the exit
0.3 mi·39 sec
Toward CTH X: Webster Avenue, Riverside Drive
14
Continue on this road
0.4 mi·41 sec·this road
15
Turn left onto WI 57
1.2 mi·1 min·Riverside Drive
16
Continue on WI 57
1.0 mi·1 min·North Broadway
17
Arrive at destination
WI 57
Trip Plan
Given the 2-hour-50-minute duration, this route is easily completed in a single day. Consider departing in the morning to maximize your time at your destination, and keep in mind the $22 fuel cost. While there's only one recommended stop, the longest stretch without a significant road change is 87.8 miles, so plan a brief break if needed. For a more comfortable drive, aim to leave before peak traffic times. The straightforward highway nature means you can be quite flexible with your timing.
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 70.8 miles from Waterford, WI, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.8 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 31 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 70.8 miles or 1h 31m 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 19m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near De Pere, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Waterford, 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 Waterford, WI
This is one driving day of about 141.7 miles and 2h 50m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Waterford, 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 43 for about 87.8 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 19.5 and 134.9 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
19.5 mi into trip|~29m in
Take the ramp toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the right lane.
Toward I 43 North, I 894 East, I 41 South
5
19.8 mi into trip|~30m in|I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
20.6 mi into trip|~31m in|I 43
Keep slight right at fork onto I 43 toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10A
Toward I 43, I 94: Milwaukee
5
21.7 mi into trip|~33m in|I 94 / North-South Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / North-South Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
5
134.9 mi into trip|~2h 39m in
Take the exit toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 180
Toward WI 172 West: Austin Straubel Airport
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$22.15 one way
$44.31 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg50 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$24.32
$48.65
premium
$4.89
$27.27
$54.54
diesel
$5.61
$31.29
$62.57
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: 49.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
42.5
0
$14.88
$6.80
Efficient EV
35.4
0
$12.40
$5.67
EV Truck/SUV
56.7
0
$19.84
$9.07
Gas CO2
50 kg
EV CO2
17 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 Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Waterford, WI
Night
in Waterford on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
De Pere, WI
Night
in De Pere on Saturday
Local time
11:39 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
44°F
Cedar Grove, WI
71 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
2 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
2h 50m 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 for most of this 141.7-mile drive, with 88% of the journey on major roadways like I-43. The North-South Freeway and Loomis Road also contribute to the predominantly high-speed nature of this route. You'll encounter one significant stretch of 87.8 miles on I-43, offering a period of uninterrupted travel. While the profile is largely highway, the transition onto and off these main roads will involve some local road navigation, but the character remains decidedly geared towards efficient travel.
88% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
17 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 87.8 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and North-South Freeway. You will hit about 8 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 19.5 miles in.
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 141.7 miles you will encounter 8 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: at 19.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles (I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles (I 43): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 50m. Total distance: 141.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 50m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 87.8 miles on I 43. 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 De Pere, 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 19.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 19.8 miles (I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41 / Airport Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 20.6 miles (I 43): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 De Pere, WI before heading back.
