Origin
Kenosha, WI
Afternoon in Kenosha on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Kenosha, WI to Balsam Lake, WI
Drive Time
7h 2m
Distance
363.9 mi
586 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$55
one way
Kenosha, WI
Tom Fisk
Balsam Lake, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from Kenosha, WI to Balsam Lake, WI covers 363.9 miles and takes about 7h 2m 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 $55.27 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
2 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
182 miles from Kenosha, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 31m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 7h 2m drive with frequent turns across 363.9 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 38 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 7h 2m, 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 Balsam Lake, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Sheridan Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Washington Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Burlington Road | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 41 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 94 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East-West Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 39 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
Sheridan Road
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Balsam Lake, 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
76 mi
·
1 hr 21 min
·
I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
19
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
·
US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
20
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
0.5 mi
·
36 sec
·
US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
21
Merge slight left
50 mi
·
55 min
22
Take the exit slight right toward US 8: Barron, Cameron
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
·
US 8: Barron, Cameron
23
Keep slight left
259 ft
·
14 sec
24
Turn left
3.7 mi
·
5 min
25
Continue on East Division Avenue
2.0 mi
·
5 min
·
East Division Avenue
26
Continue on 13 1/2 Avenue
3.0 mi
·
4 min
·
13 1/2 Avenue
27
Continue on 13 1/2 - 14th Avenue
1.4 mi
·
1 min
·
13 1/2 - 14th Avenue
28
Continue on 14th Avenue
9.0 mi
·
12 min
·
14th Avenue
29
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 14th Avenue
131 ft
·
7 sec
·
14th Avenue
30
Exit the roundabout onto 14th Avenue
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
14th Avenue
31
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
102 ft
·
6 sec
·
the route
32
Exit the roundabout
10.0 mi
·
14 min
33
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East 130th Avenue
125 ft
·
7 sec
·
East 130th Avenue
34
Exit the roundabout onto East 130th Avenue
4.4 mi
·
6 min
·
East 130th Avenue
35
Turn right onto 140th Street
3.5 mi
·
6 min
·
140th Street
36
Continue on West Main Street
0.5 mi
·
56 sec
·
West Main Street
37
Turn left onto Courthouse Avenue
407 ft
·
18 sec
·
Courthouse Avenue
38
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 2 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 182 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 3h 31m 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 80 miles or 1h 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 182 miles or 3h 31m 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 52m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Balsam Lake, 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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Kenosha, WI
This is one driving day of about 363.9 miles and 7h 2m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Kenosha, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 2 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 182 mi from Kenosha, WI · 3h 31m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
182 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 182 miles from Kenosha, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Balsam Lake, WI
The final approach into Balsam Lake, 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 Balsam Lake, 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
$55.27 one way
$110.55 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
127 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $60.93 | $121.86 |
| premium | $4.80 | $68.70 | $137.39 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $80.85 | $161.69 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$55
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$80–$105
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 127.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 109.2 | 1 | $38.21 | $17.47 |
| Efficient EV | 91 | 1 | $31.84 | $14.56 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 145.6 | 1 | $50.95 | $23.29 |
Gas CO2
127 kg
EV CO2
43 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Balsam Lake, WI
Afternoon in Balsam Lake on Sunday
Local time
1:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
42°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
5 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
7h 2m 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 Balsam Lake, WI covers 363.9 miles and takes about 7h 2m 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 182 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 $55.27 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 2 meaningful breaks 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 7h 2m, 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 Balsam Lake, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Kenosha, WI to Balsam Lake, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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