Origin
Kenosha, WI
Night in Kenosha on Wednesday
Local time
9:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
5h 14m
Distance
278.7 mi
449 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$44
one way
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Kenosha, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Altoona, WI
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from Kenosha, WI to Altoona, WI covers 278.7 miles and takes about 5h 14m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on Sheridan Road, Washington Road, Burlington Road for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.57 one way before food or hotel costs.
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
139.4 miles from Kenosha, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 37m into the drive .
Expect a 5h 14m drive with frequent turns across 278.7 miles of local and secondary roads.
Expect a hands-on drive with frequent turns and local roads rather than long highway stretches. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way.
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
This is a straightforward 5h 14m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kenosha, WI to Altoona, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sheridan Road | — | — |
| Washington Road | — | — |
| Burlington Road | — | — |
| I 41 North | — | — |
| Airport Freeway | — | — |
| I 94 West | — | — |
| East-West Freeway | — | — |
| I 39 North | — | — |
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Altoona, WI.
Start on 56th Street
Turn right onto Sheridan Road
Turn left onto Washington Road
Continue on Burlington Road
Take the ramp right toward I 41 North, I 94 West
Merge slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
Continue straight
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Keep slight left
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
Merge slight left
Take the exit slight right toward US 12: Clairemont Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on US 12: East Clairemont Avenue
Keep slight right to continue on US 12: East Clairemont Avenue
Turn straight onto US 12
Turn slight left
Turn left onto 10th Street West
Turn right onto Bartlett Avenue
Turn left onto 9th Street West
Turn right onto Garfield Avenue
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 61 miles or 1h 8m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 139.4 miles or 2h 37m 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 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Altoona, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Kenosha, 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 Kenosha, WI
This is one driving day of about 278.7 miles and 5h 14m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 139.4 mi from Kenosha, WI · 2h 37m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
139 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.
A short stop after about 61 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 139.4 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Altoona, 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 Altoona, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$43.57 one way
$87.14 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $47.84 | $95.68 |
| premium | $4.89 | $53.63 | $107.27 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $61.53 | $123.07 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 97.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $29 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 83.6 | 1 | $29.26 | $13.38 |
| Efficient EV | 69.7 | 0 | $24.39 | $11.15 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 111.5 | 1 | $39.02 | $17.84 |
Gas CO2
98 kg
EV CO2
33 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Night in Kenosha on Wednesday
Local time
9:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Destination
Night in Altoona on Wednesday
Local time
9:41 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°F
Unavailable
64°F
Adams, WI
139 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
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.
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