Skip to main content

Trip from Kenosha, WI to River Falls, WI

Last recalculated Apr 15, 2026

Drive Time

6h 26m

Distance

342.6 mi

551 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$54

one way

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min
4 AM
6h 14m ★
6 AM
6h 27m
8 AM
6h 51m
10 AM
6h 35m
12 PM
6h 33m
3 PM
6h 37m
5 PM
6h 50m
8 PM
6h 19m

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

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

Kenosha, WI

Wikimedia Commons

city in Pierce and St. Croix counties in Wisconsin, United States

River Falls, WI

Wikimedia Commons

Trip Overview

The drive from Kenosha, WI to River Falls, WI covers 342.6 miles and takes about 6h 26m 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 $53.56 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

171.3 miles from Kenosha, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 13m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 6h 26m drive with frequent turns across 342.6 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 30 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
Sheridan Road is one of the defining roads on this drive.

How Hard Is This Drive?

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.

Route Complexity 3/10

Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time

The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 26m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.

Where does it get tricky?

This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kenosha, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.

Main Roads

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.

Longest stretch: Sheridan Road — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and River Falls, WI.

1

Start on 56th Street

266 ft · 11 sec · 56th Street
2

Turn right onto Sheridan Road

1.0 mi · 2 min · Sheridan Road
3

Turn left onto Washington Road

3.0 mi · 6 min · Washington Road
4

Continue on Burlington Road

3.7 mi · 6 min · Burlington Road
5

Take the ramp right toward I 41 North, I 94 West

0.3 mi · 41 sec · I 41 North, I 94 West
6

Merge slight left

23 mi · 24 min
7

Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac

0.6 mi · 49 sec · I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
8

Continue straight

1.1 mi · 1 min
9

Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway

4.6 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway
10

Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac

4.2 mi · 5 min · I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
11

Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee

0.2 mi · 16 sec · I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
12

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

0.6 mi · 56 sec · I 94 West: Madison
13

Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison

0.1 mi · 11 sec · I 94 West: Madison
14

Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

10 mi · 11 min · East-West Freeway
15

Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway
16

Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

29 mi · 31 min · I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
17

Keep slight left

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min
18

Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

130 mi · 2 hr 19 min · I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
19

Take the exit slight right toward CTH T: Hammond

0.3 mi · 38 sec · CTH T: Hammond
20

Enter the roundabout and take exit 3 toward County Highway T

243 ft · 5 sec · County Highway T
21

Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

486 ft · 28 sec · County Highway T
22

Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward County Highway T

144 ft · 8 sec · County Highway T
23

Exit the roundabout onto County Highway T

1.5 mi · 2 min · County Highway T
24

Turn right onto County Highway N

2.5 mi · 3 min · County Highway N
25

At the end of the road, turn left onto County Highway J

4.0 mi · 5 min · County Highway J
26

Turn left onto State Highway 65

4.4 mi · 6 min · State Highway 65
27

Continue on North Main Street

1.2 mi · 3 min · North Main Street
28

Turn left onto East Cedar Street

171 ft · 8 sec · East Cedar Street
29

Turn right

69 ft · 5 sec
30

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

Morning Departure

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

Evening Departure

This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 171.3 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 3h 13m into the drive.

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 75 miles or 1h 24m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 171.3 miles or 3h 13m in

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

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 18m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near River Falls, 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 342.6 miles and 6h 26m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 75 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.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 171.3 mi from Kenosha, WI · 3h 13m into the drive

Downtown Sparta, WI, WI

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Sparta, WI

171 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

Waukegan, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 75 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Sparta, WI

Meal break

The midpoint is around 171.3 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in River Falls, WI

The final approach into River Falls, 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 River Falls, 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

$53.56 one way

$107.12 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 120 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $58.81 $117.62
premium $4.89 $65.93 $131.86
diesel $5.61 $75.64 $151.28

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$54

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$79–$104

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 119.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $36 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 102.8 1 $35.97 $16.44
Efficient EV 85.7 0 $29.98 $13.70
EV Truck/SUV 137 1 $47.96 $21.93

Gas CO2

120 kg

EV CO2

40 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 as of Apr 15, 2026

Origin

Kenosha, WI

Evening in Kenosha on Wednesday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

River Falls, WI

Evening in River Falls on Wednesday

Local time

6:33 PM

CDT

Current temp

64°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

69°F

Sparta, WI

171 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

3 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

6h 26m on the road

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.

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 River Falls, WI covers 342.6 miles and takes about 6h 26m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are Sheridan Road, Washington Road, Burlington Road. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 171.3 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 $53.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
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.
The route itself is not hard, but at 6h 26m, endurance matters. Plan breaks every 2-3 hours. The 0 decision points are all manageable with basic attention.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Kenosha, WI to River Falls, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kenosha, WI to River Falls, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.

Was this route helpful?

Thanks for your feedback!

Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!

/500

Explore More

More trips to River Falls, WI

Explore more options from Kenosha, WI or browse trips ending in River Falls, WI.

Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.

Explore maps for Kenosha, WI or River Falls, WI on MapSof.net.