Origin
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Wauwatosa, 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
53m
Distance
34.5 mi
55 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$5
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 49m
★
6 AM
0h 53m
8 AM
1h 2m
10 AM
0h 56m
12 PM
0h 55m
3 PM
0h 57m
5 PM
1h 1m
8 PM
0h 50m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Racine, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning a quick excursion from Wauwatosa to Racine, you can expect a manageable 35.6-mile journey that typically takes about 47 minutes. This trip is perfectly suited for a single-day adventure, meaning there is no need to worry about overnight accommodations. Budgeting approximately $5 for fuel will cover your travel expenses, making this an incredibly economical outing within the Midwest. Since the route involves navigating turn-heavy local roads, you will want to stay alert rather than settling into a long-distance cruise. It is a straightforward transit between these two Wisconsin locations, ideal for travelers who prefer a short, efficient commute over an extended road trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| North-South Freeway | 13.2 mi | 15m |
| Northwestern Avenue | 9 mi | 15m |
| I 94 | 5.4 mi | 7m |
| East-West Freeway | 2 mi | 2m |
| West State Street | 1.8 mi | 4m |
| State Street | 1 mi | 1m |
| WI 175 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
North-South Freeway
— 13.2 mi, about 15m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Wauwatosa, WI and Racine, WI.
1
Start on West State Street
1.8 mi
·
4 min
·
West State Street
Use the straight lane.
2
Turn left onto North Alois Street
0.2 mi
·
22 sec
·
North Alois Street
3
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward WI 175 South
4
Merge onto WI 175
0.6 mi
·
57 sec
·
WI 175
5
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
52 sec
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East: Downtown
6
Merge onto I 94
2.0 mi
·
2 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
5.4 mi
·
7 min
·
I 94
Toward I 43 South, I 94: Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North-South Freeway
9
Continue on I 94
13 mi
·
15 min
·
North-South Freeway
Exit 316-319
Toward WIS 94 East, US 41: Layton Ave, College Ave, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 329
Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Turn left onto CTH K
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Northwestern Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
12
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
13
Continue on WI 38
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwestern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
91 ft
·
1 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
15
Continue on WI 38
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
16
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
72 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Street
17
Continue on WI 38
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the straight lane.
18
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
19
Turn right onto WI 20; WI 32
309 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
20
Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue
284 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wisconsin Avenue
21
Turn left onto WI 20; WI 32
245 ft
·
8 sec
·
7th Street
22
Arrive at destination
WI 20; WI 32
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
17 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 34.5 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 17.2 miles from Wauwatosa, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
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 205 decision points cluster between mile 2.7 and 23.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
2.7 mi into trip
|
~6m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East: Downtown
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East: Downtown
5
3.1 mi into trip
|
~7m in
|
I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge onto I 94 / East-West Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
5.1 mi into trip
|
~10m in
|
I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 43 South, I 94: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward I 43 South, I 94: Chicago
5
10.7 mi into trip
|
~18m 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
23.7 mi into trip
|
~33m 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
$5.39 one way
$10.79 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
12 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $5.92 | $11.84 |
| premium | $4.89 | $6.64 | $13.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $7.62 | $15.23 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$5
Estimated CO2 emission: 12.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $4 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 10.4 | 0 | $3.62 | $1.66 |
| Efficient EV | 8.6 | 0 | $3.02 | $1.38 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 13.8 | 0 | $4.83 | $2.21 |
Gas CO2
12 kg
EV CO2
4 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.
Destination
Racine, WI
Late night in Racine on Sunday
Local time
5:19 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
53m 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?
Expect a turn-heavy local experience as you navigate away from Wauwatosa. Your path relies on a combination of North Alois Street, WI 175 South, and I 94 East to bridge the distance. Because this is entirely a local-style drive, you will not encounter any significant highway stretches, as the highway share is 0%. You will find that there is no single long, uninterrupted stretch of road, with the longest segment being 0 miles on North Alois Street. Prepare for frequent adjustments and turns rather than the monotony of a high-speed interstate grind.
61% 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: 13.2 mi on North-South Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on North-South Freeway and Northwestern Avenue. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 2.7 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 20 decision points packed into just 34.5 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 53m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.1 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Wauwatosa, WI and Racine, WI, road signs point toward Wis 94 East, Chicago, Cth K: Racine and Caledonia.
Wis 94 East
10.7 mi in
|
~18m
|
via I 94
Chicago
10.7 mi in
|
~18m
|
via I 94
Cth K: Racine
23.7 mi in
|
~33m
Caledonia
23.7 mi in
|
~33m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 53m. Total distance: 34.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
53m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (61%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 13.2 miles on North-South Freeway. 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 Racine, 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: at 2.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 3.1 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 5.1 miles (I 94): 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 Racine, 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, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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