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Trip from Kenosha, WI to Ladysmith, WI

Data updated 0 seconds ago

Drive Time

6h 33m

Distance

325.4 mi

524 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$51

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 36 min
4 AM
6h 22m ★
6 AM
6h 34m
8 AM
6h 58m
10 AM
6h 42m
12 PM
6h 40m
3 PM
6h 44m
5 PM
6h 57m
8 PM
6h 27m

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

Downtown Ladysmith, WI, WI

Ladysmith, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

The drive from Kenosha, WI to Ladysmith, WI covers 325.4 miles and takes about 6h 33m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, East-West Freeway, I 90 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.6 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.87 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

162.7 miles from Kenosha, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 6m into the drive .

Loading map...

Drive Character

This is a 6h 33m highway drive covering 325.4 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and East-West Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.6 miles on I 94.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 34 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and East-West Freeway. 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 Complexity 9/10

High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day

This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 325.4 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 24 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 Ladysmith, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Cth R: Osseo and Augusta.

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

Saint Paul

198.5 mi in | ~3h 45m | via I 94

Cth R: Osseo

257 mi in | ~4h 48m

Augusta

257 mi in | ~4h 48m

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
I 94 87.6 mi 1h 34m
East-West Freeway 63.8 mi 1h 9m
I 90 63.5 mi 1h 8m
State Highway 27 55.2 mi 1h 21m
I 41 28.5 mi 33m
County Highway R 6.8 mi 11m
Airport Freeway 4.6 mi 6m
Burlington Road 3.7 mi 6m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 87.6 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Kenosha, WI and Ladysmith, 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 317 Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac Use 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 Lac Use the slight right lane.
11

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec
Exit 1B-A Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee Use the slight right lane.
12

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 56 sec
Exit 1B Toward I 94 West: Madison Use 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 240 Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
18

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

59 mi · 1 hr 2 min · I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul Use the straight lane.
19

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 33 sec
Exit 88 Toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta
20

Keep slight right at fork

197 ft · 5 sec
21

Merge onto US 10

0.6 mi · 1 min · 10th Street
22

Continue on US 10

0.8 mi · 1 min · US Highway 10
23

Turn left onto CTH R

0.5 mi · 53 sec · County Road R
24

Continue on CTH R

6.8 mi · 11 min · County Highway R
25

At end of road, turn right onto US 12; WI 27

1.2 mi · 2 min · US 12; WI 27
26

Turn left onto WI 27

35 mi · 51 min · State Highway 27
27

Continue on WI 27

0.6 mi · 50 sec · South 3rd Street
28

Turn right onto WI 27; WI 64

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bridge Street
29

Continue on WI 27; WI 64

21 mi · 30 min · State Highway 27
30

Continue on WI 27

1.1 mi · 1 min · West 9th Street South
31

Turn right onto Miner Avenue West

0.3 mi · 1 min · Miner Avenue West
32

Turn right

443 ft · 33 sec
33

Turn right

36 ft · 2 sec
34

Arrive at 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 162.7 miles from Kenosha, WI, or about 3h 6m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.6 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 80 miles or 1h 38m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 162.7 miles or 3h 6m 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 5m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladysmith, 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 325.4 miles and 6h 33m.

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 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 87.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 162.7 mi from Kenosha, WI · 3h 6m into the drive

Downtown Rockford, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

163 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 162.7 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 I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.6 miles.

Arriving in Ladysmith, WI

The final approach into Ladysmith, 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 Ladysmith, 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

$50.87 one way

$101.75 round trip

$3.97/gal 25.4 MPG avg 114 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.36 $55.86 $111.71
premium $4.89 $62.62 $125.24
diesel $5.61 $71.84 $143.69

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$51

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$76–$101

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 113.9 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.

Driving Electric?

About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 97.6 1 $34.17 $15.62
Efficient EV 81.4 0 $28.47 $13.02
EV Truck/SUV 130.2 1 $45.56 $20.83

Gas CO2

114 kg

EV CO2

38 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 data refreshed 4 hours ago

Origin

Kenosha, WI

Morning in Kenosha on Wednesday

Local time

7:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

61°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ladysmith, WI

Morning in Ladysmith on Wednesday

Local time

7:14 AM

CDT

Current temp

66°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 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 33m 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 Ladysmith, WI covers 325.4 miles and takes about 6h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, East-West Freeway, I 90. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 162.7 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 $50.87 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 325.4 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 Ladysmith, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Cth R: Osseo and Augusta.

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