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Trip from West Bend, WI to Kenosha, WI

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Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 21, 2026 · Editorial standards

Drive Time

1h 37m

Distance

74.5 mi

120 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$12

one way

EV Charging

Unknown

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 22 min
4 AM
1h 30m ★
6 AM
1h 37m
8 AM
1h 52m
10 AM
1h 43m
12 PM
1h 41m
3 PM
1h 43m
5 PM
1h 51m
8 PM
1h 33m

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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city in Washington County, Wisconsin, United States

West Bend, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in and county seat of Kenosha County, Wisconsin and part of the Chicago metropolitan area, known as Chicagoland

Kenosha, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

This 74.5-mile drive from West Bend to Kenosha, Wisconsin, is a straightforward 1 hour and 37-minute journey. Primarily utilizing the West Bend Freeway, North-South Freeway, and Airport Freeway, this route is almost entirely highway, making it a very efficient trip. With a fuel cost estimated at $11, it's an economical option for a single-day excursion. You'll be staying within the Midwest region throughout this drive. Given its short duration and highway focus, this trip is perfectly suited for a day trip, allowing you ample time to reach your destination and still have the day to explore.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Midpoint

37.2 miles from West Bend, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 47m into the drive .

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
West Bend Freeway 35.7 mi 42m
North-South Freeway 23.3 mi 25m
Airport Freeway 4.3 mi 5m
Burlington Road 3.6 mi 6m
Washington Road 3.3 mi 7m
I 41 1.3 mi 1m
West Washington Street 1.2 mi 3m
Sheridan Road 0.9 mi 1m
Longest stretch: West Bend Freeway — 35.7 mi, about 42m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between West Bend, WI and Kenosha, WI.

1

Start on North Main Street

326 ft · 20 sec · North Main Street
2

Turn left onto Cedar Street

0.1 mi · 23 sec · Cedar Street
3

Turn right onto North 8th Avenue

288 ft · 16 sec · North 8th Avenue
4

Turn left onto WI 33; WI 144

1.2 mi · 3 min · West Washington Street
5

Turn left

0.3 mi · 35 sec
Toward US 45 South: Milwaukee
6

Merge onto US 45

36 mi · 42 min · West Bend Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

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

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8

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.
9

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

23 mi · 25 min · North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington Use the slight right lane.
11

Keep slight left at fork

199 ft · 6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
12

Turn left onto WI 142

3.6 mi · 6 min · Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
13

Continue on CTH S

3.3 mi · 7 min · Washington Road
14

Turn right onto WI 32

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Road
15

Turn left onto 54th Street

305 ft · 14 sec · 54th Street
16

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · 8th Avenue
17

Turn right onto 56th Street

43 ft · 1 sec · 56th Street
18

Arrive at destination

56th Street

Trip Plan

For this relatively short 1 hour and 37-minute drive, leaving whenever you're ready is feasible. Since there are no designated stops in the data and the longest stretch is manageable, you likely won't need to plan for extensive breaks. However, it's always wise to be mindful of fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 35.7-mile segment on the West Bend Freeway. Keep an eye on traffic conditions, particularly as you approach the Kenosha area, as urban congestion can sometimes impact travel times.

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 37.2 miles from West Bend, WI, or about 47m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 35.7 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 16 miles or 21m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 37.2 miles or 47m 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 17m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving West Bend, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.

Day 1

Settle into the route from West Bend, WI

This is one driving day of about 74.5 miles and 1h 37m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from West Bend, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on West Bend Freeway for about 35.7 miles.

Where to Stop

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

village in Milwaukee County, Wisconsin, United States

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Greendale, WI

37 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

Butler, WI

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Greendale, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 37.2 miles from West Bend, 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.

Stops Along Your Drive

Picked by where they fit in your drive — first break, midpoint reset, final stretch.

Best coffee break · home stretch

BLAK Coffee Kenosha

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch · 0min to go 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

East View Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Kenosha, Wisconsin

0.1 mi

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

1.5 mi

Anodyne Coffee Roasting Co. | Bay View

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 3.3 mi from route ~8 min detour $1 to $10

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–7 pm

+14144890765

Visit website

BLAK Coffee Kenosha

4.9 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route $10 to $20

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Hours: 8 am–2 pm

Visit website

East View Coffee Roasters

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, right off the route

Home stretch 0.1 mi from route $1 to $10

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Hours: 8 am–3 pm

+12622074140

Visit website

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 1.5 mi from route ~4 min detour $1 to $10

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin

Hours: 7:30 am–5 pm

Visit website

Blüm Coffee Garden

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour $10 to $20

Greenfield, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–6 pm

+14142824220

Visit website

Summer Moon Coffee

4.6 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Near the end, short detour

Home stretch 2.2 mi from route ~5 min detour Inexpensiv

Kenosha, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–8 pm

+14144882708

Visit website

Valentine Coffee Roasters on Vliet Street

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Halfway reset 2.5 mi from route ~6 min detour $1 to $10

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 6 am–6 pm

+14149888018

Visit website

Vendetta Coffee Bar

4.7 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, ~12 min detour

Halfway reset 4.7 mi from route ~12 min detour $10 to $20

Milwaukee, Wisconsin

Hours: 7 am–10 pm

Visit website

Franklin Woods Nature Center Pavilion

4.8 ★ ★ ★ ★ ★

Around the midpoint, short detour

Final third 1.4 mi from route ~3 min detour

Franklin, Wisconsin

Hours: 9 am–9 pm

+14147452760

Visit website

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

Heads-up: tricky spots

5 of 15

5 decision points cluster between mile 0.2 and 66.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.

5
0.2 mi into trip | ~0m in | North 8th Avenue

Turn right onto North 8th Avenue

Navigation decision point

5
1.4 mi into trip | ~4m in

Turn left toward US 45 South: Milwaukee

Navigation decision point

Toward US 45 South: Milwaukee
9
41.7 mi into trip | ~53m 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
8
66.3 mi into trip | ~1h 20m in

Take the exit toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington

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 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington
7
66.5 mi into trip | ~1h 21m in

Keep slight left at fork toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha

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

Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, K...

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$11.65 one way

$23.29 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 26 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $12.79 $25.58
premium $4.89 $14.34 $28.67
diesel $5.61 $16.45 $32.90

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$12

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$37–$62

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 26.1 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 65% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 22.3 0 $7.82 $3.58
Efficient EV 18.6 0 $6.52 $2.98
EV Truck/SUV 29.8 0 $10.43 $4.77

Gas CO2

26 kg

EV CO2

9 kg (65% 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 13, 2026

Origin

West Bend, WI

Late night in West Bend on Tuesday

Local time

4:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kenosha, WI

Late night in Kenosha on Tuesday

Local time

4:49 AM

CDT

Current temp

58°F

Mostly Cloudy

SW 15 mph 1% chance Live forecast

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 13 at 2:57AM CDT until April 14 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Duluth MN

Flood Watch

Flood Watch issued April 13 at 2:23AM CDT until April 14 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI

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

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

1h 37m on the road

The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.

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

What kind of drive is this?

Expect a highway-focused drive for the majority of this 74.5-mile trip, with 87% of the route being on freeways. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 35.7 miles along the West Bend Freeway. This means you'll experience consistent speeds and limited distractions for a significant portion of your journey. The road profile suggests a steady pace, ideal for covering ground efficiently without much deviation from major arterial routes.

87% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 35.7 mi on West Bend Freeway.

How Hard Is This Drive?

9/10

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on West Bend Freeway and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.2 miles in near North 8th Avenue.

Driving Effort 9/10

Demanding - stay alert through the decision-heavy sections

Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.

This drive requires moderate attention. Across 74.5 miles you will encounter 15 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 0.2 miles (North 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 41.7 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

986 ft 600 ft

Total Climb

208 ft

Total Descent

507 ft

Highest Point

986 ft

~5.3 mi in

Elevation Range

386 ft

Towns Mentioned on Route Signs

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

Between West Bend, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Cth S: Kenosha, Burlington and Cth S East: Gateway Technical College.

Cth S: Kenosha

66.3 mi in | ~1h 20m

Burlington

66.3 mi in | ~1h 20m

Cth S East: Gateway Technical College

66.5 mi in | ~1h 21m

About the Cities

Starting in West Bend, WI

Full guide →

West Bend is a city of 30,000 people in Southeast Wisconsin.

Arriving in Kenosha, WI

Full guide →

Kenosha is Wisconsin's fourth largest city. It is in the state's southeast region. Many of its residents commute to jobs elsewhere, leading to its appellation as "Chicago's northernmost suburb."

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 37m. Total distance: 74.5 miles.

Family Friendly

Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.

Solo Traveler

1h 37m drive, comfortable solo distance.

First-Time Driver

Mostly highway driving (87%). Some complex stretches to watch for.

Frequently Asked Questions

The longest stretch is about 35.7 miles on West Bend 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 Kenosha, 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 0.2 miles (North 8th Avenue): Navigation decision point; at 1.4 miles: Navigation decision point; at 41.7 miles (I 41; US 41): 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 Kenosha, 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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