Origin
Howards Grove, WI
Afternoon in Howards Grove on Thursday
Local time
2:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Howards Grove, WI to Oak Creek, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
1h 34m
Distance
73.3 mi
118 km
Drive Score
7/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$11
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
1h 27m
★
6 AM
1h 34m
8 AM
1h 49m
10 AM
1h 39m
12 PM
1h 38m
3 PM
1h 40m
5 PM
1h 48m
8 PM
1h 30m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Howards Grove, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Oak Creek, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Howards Grove, WI to Oak Creek, WI covers 73.3 miles and takes about 1h 34m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 43, John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway, State Highway 42 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 56 miles on I 43. At current regular gas prices, budget about $11.46 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
36.7 miles from Howards Grove, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 43m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 1h 34m. Total distance: 73.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
1h 34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (90%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 1h 34m highway drive covering 73.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 43 and John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway. The longest continuous stretch is about 56 miles on I 43.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 43 is the longest continuous segment at about 56 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway. You will hit about 13 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 1.5 miles in near WI 42 / State Highway 42.
Driving Effort
6/10
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 73.3 miles you will encounter 13 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 1.5 miles (WI 42 / State Highway 42): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.2 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 13 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
4
1.5 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
WI 42 / State Highway 42
Enter roundabout onto WI 42 / State Highway 42
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
3.9 mi into trip
|
~5m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
5
4.2 mi into trip
|
~6m in
|
I 43
Merge onto I 43
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
60.2 mi into trip
|
~1h 9m in
Take the exit toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72B
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
7
60.9 mi into trip
|
~1h 11m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Howards Grove, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Lakefront along the way.
Lakefront
61.5 mi in
|
~1h 12m
|
via I 794
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 56 mi | 1h 3m |
| John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway | 4.3 mi | 6m |
| State Highway 42 | 3.3 mi | 4m |
| Nicholson Avenue | 2.5 mi | 6m |
| Lake Freeway | 2 mi | 3m |
| South Pennsylvania Avenue | 1.5 mi | 2m |
| East Forest Hill Avenue | 0.9 mi | 2m |
| South Chicago Road | 0.5 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 56 mi, about 1h 3m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Howards Grove, WI and Oak Creek, WI.
1
Start on CTH A
0.1 mi
·
10 sec
·
College Avenue
2
Turn right onto WI 42
0.5 mi
·
43 sec
·
Madison Avenue
3
Continue on WI 42
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 42
4
Enter roundabout onto WI 42
99 ft
·
1 sec
·
State Highway 42
5
Continue on WI 42
1.2 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 42
6
Enter roundabout onto WI 42
111 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 42
7
Continue on WI 42
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
State Highway 42
8
Enter roundabout onto WI 42
135 ft
·
2 sec
·
State Highway 42
9
Continue on WI 42
0.2 mi
·
20 sec
·
State Highway 42
10
Enter roundabout
25 ft
·
0 sec
11
Continue
0.3 mi
·
34 sec
12
Merge onto I 43
56 mi
·
1 hr 3 min
·
I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 72B
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi
·
16 sec
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront
Use the slight left lane.
15
Merge onto I 794
0.5 mi
·
40 sec
·
East-West Freeway
16
Continue on I 794
2.0 mi
·
3 min
·
Lake Freeway
Toward Lakefront
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
17
Continue on I 794
4.3 mi
·
6 min
·
John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway
18
Continue on WI 794
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
South Pennsylvania Avenue
19
Continue on Nicholson Avenue
2.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Nicholson Avenue
Use the straight lane.
20
Turn left onto East Forest Hill Avenue
0.9 mi
·
2 min
·
East Forest Hill Avenue
21
Turn right onto WI 32
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
South Chicago Road
22
Turn right onto East Puetz Road
109 ft
·
2 sec
·
East Puetz Road
23
Arrive at destination
East Puetz Road
Trip Plan
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 36.7 miles from Howards Grove, WI, or about 43m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 56 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 36.7 miles or 43m 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 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Creek, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Howards Grove, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Howards Grove, WI
This is one driving day of about 73.3 miles and 1h 34m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 16 miles from Howards Grove, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 43 for about 56 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 36.7 mi from Howards Grove, WI · 43m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 16 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 36.7 miles from Howards Grove, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Oak Creek, WI
The final approach into Oak Creek, WI usually feels slower than the middle of the drive, so avoid planning your tightest schedule at the very end.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$11.46 one way
$22.92 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
26 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $12.58 | $25.16 |
| premium | $4.89 | $14.11 | $28.21 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $16.18 | $32.37 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$11
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$36–$61
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 25.6 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 | 0 | $7.70 | $3.52 |
| Efficient EV | 18.3 | 0 | $6.41 | $2.93 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 29.3 | 0 | $10.26 | $4.69 |
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.
Destination
Oak Creek, WI
Afternoon in Oak Creek on Thursday
Local time
2:10 PM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
19 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 34m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Howards Grove, WI to Oak Creek, WI covers 73.3 miles and takes about 1h 34m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 43, John R. Plewa Memorial Lake Parkway, State Highway 42. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 36.7 miles from Howards Grove, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $11.46 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 73.3 miles you will encounter 13 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
The main spots that need attention: at 1.5 miles (WI 42 / State Highway 42): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 3.9 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 4.2 miles (I 43): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here.
On the drive from Howards Grove, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Lakefront along the way.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
More trips to Oak Creek, WI
Explore more options from Howards Grove, WI or browse trips ending in Oak Creek, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.
Explore maps for Howards Grove, WI or Oak Creek, WI on MapSof.net.