The drive from Kenosha, WI to Mauston, WI covers 176 miles and takes about 3h 22m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East-West Freeway, I 90, I 94 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is highway-focused drive.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 63.8 miles on East-West Freeway.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $27.52 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.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
88 miles from Kenosha, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 46m into the drive
.
Drive Character
This is a 3h 22m highway drive covering 176 miles, with most of the trip on East-West Freeway and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 63.8 miles on East-West Freeway.
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.
East-West Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 63.8 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 30.8 miles in near I 41; I 94; US 41.
Route Complexity9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 176 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 30.8 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 19 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
9
30.8 mi into trip|~40m in|I 41; I 94; US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 317
Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Ma...
8
37 mi into trip|~49m in|I 41; I 894; US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US...
8
41.2 mi into trip|~55m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
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 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
41.4 mi into trip|~55m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
9
105.9 mi into trip|~2h 6m in|I 94
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 240
Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Kenosha, WI and Mauston, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee and Eau Claire.
Fond Du Lac
30.8 mi in|~40m|via I 41; I 94; US 41
Milwaukee
41.2 mi in|~55m
Eau Claire
105.9 mi in|~2h 6m|via I 94
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi
1h 9m
I 90
39.3 mi
42m
I 94
29.1 mi
31m
I 41
28.5 mi
33m
Airport Freeway
4.6 mi
6m
Burlington Road
3.7 mi
6m
Washington Road
3 mi
6m
Sheridan Road
1 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
East-West Freeway
— 63.8 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Mauston, WI.
1
Start on 56th Street
265 ft·11 sec·56th Street
2
Turn right onto WI 32
1.0 mi·2 min·Sheridan Road
3
Turn left onto CTH S
3.0 mi·6 min·Washington Road
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on Burlington Road
3.7 mi·6 min·Burlington Road
5
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·40 sec
Toward I 41 North, I 94 West
6
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
23 mi·24 min·I 41; I 94; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41
0.6 mi·49 sec·I 41; I 94; US 41
Exit 317Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
8
Continue on I 41; US 41
1.1 mi·1 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.6 mi·6 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
10
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41
4.2 mi·5 min·I 41; I 894; US 41
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
11
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1B-AToward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Exit 1BToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the slight left lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
14
Merge onto I 94
10 mi·11 min·East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
39 mi·42 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi·32 sec
Exit 69Toward WI 82: Mauston, Oxford
19
Turn left onto State Highway 82
0.8 mi·1 min·State Highway 82
20
At end of road, turn left onto WI 58; WI 82; CTH G
0.2 mi·23 sec·North Union Street
21
Turn right onto US 12; WI 16
0.3 mi·59 sec·East State Street
22
Turn left onto Division Street
64 ft·1 sec·Division Street
23
Arrive at destination
Division Street
Trip Plan
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 88 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 1h 46m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 39 miles or 52m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 88 miles or 1h 46m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 47m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Mauston, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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 176 miles and 3h 22m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 39 miles from Kenosha, 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 East-West Freeway for about 63.8 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 88 mi from Kenosha, WI
· 1h 46m into the drive
The midpoint is around 88 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel check
Top up before East-West Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.8 miles.
Arriving in Mauston, WI
The final approach into Mauston, 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 Mauston, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$27.52 one way
$55.03 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg62 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$30.21
$60.42
premium
$4.89
$33.87
$67.74
diesel
$5.61
$38.86
$77.72
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$28
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$53–$78
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 61.6 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $18 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
52.8
0
$18.48
$8.45
Efficient EV
44
0
$15.40
$7.04
EV Truck/SUV
70.4
0
$24.64
$11.26
Gas CO2
62 kg
EV CO2
21 kg (66% 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 14, 2026
Origin
Kenosha, WI
Night
in Kenosha on Wednesday
Local time
11:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
57°F
Mostly Cloudy then Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 15 mph80% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 13 at 9:28PM CDT until April 19 at 4:34PM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued April 13 at 9:26PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Destination
Mauston, WI
Night
in Mauston on Wednesday
Local time
11:59 PM
CDT
Current temp
45°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
69°F
Cottage Grove, WI
88 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
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
3h 22m 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kenosha, WI to Mauston, WI covers 176 miles and takes about 3h 22m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East-West Freeway, I 90, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 88 miles from Kenosha, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $27.52 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. A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 176 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
The main spots that need attention: at 30.8 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 37 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 41.2 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Kenosha, WI and Mauston, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee and Eau Claire.
