Trip from Ellsworth, WI to New Berlin, WI

Drive Time

5h 35m

Distance

284.4 mi

458 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min
4 AM
5h 22m ★
6 AM
5h 36m
8 AM
6h 2m
10 AM
5h 45m
12 PM
5h 42m
3 PM
5h 46m
5 PM
6h 1m
8 PM
5h 28m

Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.

Downtown New Berlin, WI, WI

New Berlin, WI

Esteban Arango

Trip Overview

Spanning 284.4 miles across the heart of Wisconsin, this drive connects Ellsworth to New Berlin in approximately 5 hours and 35 minutes. Given the duration, it is perfectly suited for a single-day trip, though you should plan for about $43 in fuel costs to reach your destination. You will primarily navigate via I-94, US Highway 10, and West Main Street to complete the journey. Because the entire route stays within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel throughout the transit. Whether you are traveling for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused path provides a straightforward connection between these two Wisconsin communities.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.

Break Rhythm

1 planned break

Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.

Midpoint

142.2 miles from Ellsworth, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 59m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a highly efficient experience, as 96% of this trip is spent on highways. The journey is defined by a significant 211.4-mile stretch along I-94, which serves as the backbone of your travel and allows for steady, uninterrupted progress. While the initial segments may involve transitions through US Highway 10, the majority of the drive emphasizes speed and directness over technical maneuvers. You will find that the road maintains a predictable, highway-focused personality that favors consistent cruising. It is a practical, no-nonsense route that minimizes local road navigation in favor of major transit corridors.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 17 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 211.4 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US Highway 10. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 1.7 miles in near US 10 / US Highway 10.

Route Complexity 4/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.

Where does it get tricky?

The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 10 / US Highway 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 7 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

3
1.7 mi into trip | ~4m in | US 10 / US Highway 10

Take the exit onto US 10 / US Highway 10

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early

5
69.3 mi into trip | ~1h 41m in | I 94

Merge onto I 94

Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.
8
219.8 mi into trip | ~4h 23m in | I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee
7
280.7 mi into trip | ~5h 28m in

Take the exit toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 301A-B Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road
7
281.2 mi into trip | ~5h 29m in

Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the right lane. Toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 211.4 mi 3h 46m
US Highway 10 61.4 mi 1h 25m
West Main Street 3.7 mi 8m
10th Street 3.3 mi 5m
South Moorland Road 3.2 mi 6m
Mondovi Street West 0.4 mi 1m
United States Highway 10 0.2 mi <1m
West National Avenue Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: I 94 — 211.4 mi, about 3h 46m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Ellsworth, WI and New Berlin, WI.

1

Start on US 10; US 63

1.5 mi · 4 min · West Main Street
2

Continue on US 10; US 63

0.2 mi · 24 sec · US Highway 10
3

Take the exit onto US 10

28 mi · 39 min · US Highway 10
4

Continue on US 10

0.2 mi · 18 sec · United States Highway 10
5

Turn straight onto US 10

14 mi · 19 min · US Highway 10
6

Continue on US 10

2.2 mi · 4 min · West Main Street
7

Continue on US 10

8.9 mi · 12 min · US Highway 10
8

Continue on US 10

0.4 mi · 1 min · Mondovi Street West
9

Continue on US 10

10 mi · 13 min · US Highway 10
10

Continue on US 10; US 53

3.3 mi · 5 min · 10th Street
11

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 35 sec
12

Merge onto I 94

151 mi · 2 hr 41 min · I 94
Use the straight lane.
13

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

61 mi · 1 hr 5 min · I 94
Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.
14

Take the exit

0.4 mi · 56 sec
Exit 301A-B Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Keep slight right at fork

183 ft · 4 sec
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin Use the right lane.
16

Turn straight onto CTH O

3.2 mi · 6 min · South Moorland Road
Use the straight lane.
17

Arrive at destination

West National Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a 5-hour and 35-minute haul, aim for an early morning departure to avoid potential traffic congestion as you approach the New Berlin area. You are scheduled for one major stop, so choose a location roughly halfway through the trip to stretch your legs and refuel effectively. Keep in mind that with such a high highway percentage, your fuel efficiency will likely remain steady, but it is wise to keep that $43 budget in mind when monitoring your tank. Because the route is compact enough for a single day, you have the flexibility to adjust your departure time based on your personal pace. Always check local traffic reports for the I-94 corridor before you head out to ensure your travel time remains on track.

Morning Departure

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

Evening Departure

A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 142.2 miles from Ellsworth, WI, or about 2h 59m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 211.4 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 80 miles or 1h 53m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 142.2 miles or 2h 59m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 4h 37m

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

Before You Leave

+

Open the route before leaving Ellsworth, 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 Ellsworth, WI

This is one driving day of about 284.4 miles and 5h 35m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Ellsworth, 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 94 for about 211.4 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 142.2 mi from Ellsworth, WI · 2h 59m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

142 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

Dubuque, IA

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 142.2 miles from Ellsworth, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 211.4 miles.

Arriving in New Berlin, WI

The final approach into New Berlin, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.

Try to arrive with enough fuel left to skip an immediate station stop unless you already know the area around New Berlin, WI.

After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.20 one way

$86.39 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 100 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $47.62 $95.24
premium $4.80 $53.69 $107.38
diesel $5.64 $63.18 $126.37

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 85.3 1 $29.86 $13.65
Efficient EV 71.1 0 $24.88 $11.38
EV Truck/SUV 113.8 1 $39.82 $18.20

Gas CO2

100 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% less)

Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.

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 data refreshed 2 days ago

Origin

Ellsworth, WI

Afternoon in Ellsworth on Sunday

Local time

3:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

71°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

New Berlin, WI

Afternoon in New Berlin on Sunday

Local time

3:05 PM

CDT

Current temp

59°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

12 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

5h 35m on the road

An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.

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

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Ellsworth, WI to New Berlin, WI covers 284.4 miles and takes about 5h 35m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, US Highway 10, West Main Street. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 142.2 miles from Ellsworth, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.20 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
Plan about 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, or rest. Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
This is a straightforward 5h 35m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.7 miles (US 10 / US Highway 10): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 69.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
The route from Ellsworth, WI to New Berlin, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

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