Kimberly, WI to Oak Creek, WI is 123 miles and takes about 2h 27m via I 41, with a fuel budget near $19 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This highway-focused drive stays within the Midwest, keeping you in Wisconsin for the entire journey. It's a straightforward trip, perfect for a single-day excursion when you need to get from point A to point B efficiently. You won't be dealing with extensive detours or complex navigation, making it a low-stress option for your travel plans.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
61.5 miles from Kimberly, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 10m into the drive
.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 27m. Total distance: 123 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 27m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (93%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This trip is overwhelmingly a highway-focused drive, with 93% of the journey utilizing major expressways. You'll spend most of your time on I 41, experiencing a long, uninterrupted stretch of 100.2 miles. The Tri-County Expressway and Airport Freeway will also contribute to the predominantly high-speed nature of this route. Expect a consistent driving experience, largely free from the slower speeds and frequent turns associated with more rural or scenic byways.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 21 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 41 is the longest continuous segment at about 100.2 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Tri-County Expressway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 1.9 miles in.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 123 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.3 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 15 key points
These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
6
1.9 mi into trip|~3m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
8
9.3 mi into trip|~12m in
Take the exit toward I 41 South, US 41 South: Milwaukee, Oshkosh
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left / straight lanes.
Exit 287 B
Toward I 41 South, US 41 South: Milwaukee, Oshk...
9
113.3 mi into trip|~2h 9m in|I 41; US 41
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
7
117.8 mi into trip|~2h 15m in
Take the exit toward Drexel Avenue
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 321
Toward Drexel Avenue
6
119.5 mi into trip|~2h 19m in|WI 38 / South Howell Avenue
Turn right onto WI 38 / South Howell Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / left lanes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from Kimberly, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Oshkosh along the way.
Oshkosh
9.3 mi in|~12m
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 41
100.2 mi
1h 52m
Tri-County Expressway
6.4 mi
7m
Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
5m
North-South Freeway
3.2 mi
4m
East Puetz Road
2.5 mi
5m
West Drexel Avenue
1.3 mi
3m
South Railroad Street
1 mi
1m
South Howell Avenue
1 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 100.2 mi, about 1h 52m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Kimberly, WI and Oak Creek, WI.
1
Start on West Kimberly Avenue
67 ft·8 sec·West Kimberly Avenue
2
Turn left onto South Railroad Street
0.8 mi·1 min·South Railroad Street
3
Enter roundabout onto South Railroad Street
85 ft·4 sec·South Railroad Street
4
Continue on South Railroad Street
0.2 mi·27 sec·South Railroad Street
5
Turn straight onto CTH CE
0.4 mi·32 sec·County Road CE
6
Enter roundabout onto CTH CE
164 ft·2 sec·County Road CE
7
Continue on CTH CE
0.4 mi·36 sec·County Road CE
Use the straight lane.
8
Continue on CTH CE
0.1 mi·17 sec·East College Avenue
9
Turn left
0.3 mi·44 sec
Use the left lane.
10
Merge onto WI 441
6.4 mi·7 min·Tri-County Expressway
Use the straight lane.
11
Continue on WI 441; US 10
0.7 mi·47 sec·Roland Kampo Memorial Bridge
12
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 287 BToward I 41 South, US 41 South: Milwaukee, OshkoshUse the slight left / straight lanes.
13
Merge onto I 41; US 41
99 mi·1 hr 50 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi·5 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41
1.3 mi·1 min·I 41; US 41
Exit 10BToward I 41 South, I 94 South: ChicagoUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
3.2 mi·4 min·North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.4 mi·47 sec
Exit 321Toward Drexel AvenueUse the slight right lane.
18
Turn left onto West Drexel Avenue
1.3 mi·3 min·West Drexel Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
19
Turn right onto WI 38
1.0 mi·1 min·South Howell Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
20
Turn left onto East Puetz Road
2.5 mi·5 min·East Puetz Road
21
Arrive at destination
East Puetz Road
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 27 minutes, this trip is easily completed in a single day. You could depart in the morning and arrive well before lunch, or leave in the afternoon and still have plenty of daylight. With only 123 miles, you can afford to be flexible with your timing. Keep an eye on your fuel levels, especially before embarking on the 100.2-mile stretch on I 41, as services might be less frequent in certain sections.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
You may only need one short stretch break if traffic stays light.
The halfway point lands around 61.5 miles from Kimberly, WI, or about 1h 10m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 100.2 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 27 miles or 32m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 61.5 miles or 1h 10m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 1h 54m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Creek, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Kimberly, 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 Kimberly, WI
This is one driving day of about 123 miles and 2h 27m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 27 miles from Kimberly, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
The longest stretch is on I 41 for about 100.2 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 61.5 mi from Kimberly, WI
· 1h 10m into the drive
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.23 one way
$38.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg43 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.11
$42.23
premium
$4.89
$23.67
$47.34
diesel
$5.61
$27.16
$54.31
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$19
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$44–$69
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 43 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
36.9
0
$12.92
$5.90
Efficient EV
30.8
0
$10.76
$4.92
EV Truck/SUV
49.2
0
$17.22
$7.87
Gas CO2
43 kg
EV CO2
14 kg (67% 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 15, 2026
Origin
Kimberly, WI
Morning
in Kimberly on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
61°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Oak Creek, WI
Morning
in Oak Creek on Saturday
Local time
10:20 AM
CDT
Current temp
60°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
1 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
2h 27m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Kimberly, WI to Oak Creek, WI covers 123 miles and takes about 2h 27m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 41, Tri-County Expressway, Airport Freeway. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 61.5 miles from Kimberly, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $19.23 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch. Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
This is a demanding drive. With 15 significant decision points across 123 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 1.9 miles: Lane positioning matters here; at 9.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 113.3 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
On the drive from Kimberly, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Oshkosh along the way.
How this page is built
Compiled by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, EIA for fuel prices, and NPS for national parks. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
