Trip from Madison, WI to Kenosha, WI

Drive Time

2h 24m

Distance

113.6 mi

183 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 15m ★

6 AM

2h 25m

8 AM

2h 44m

10 AM

2h 31m

12 PM

2h 29m

3 PM

2h 32m

5 PM

2h 43m

8 PM

2h 19m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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Madison, WI

Quang Vuong

Kenosha, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Connecting Madison to Kenosha is a straightforward 113.6-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 24 minutes behind the wheel. Because this route is entirely within Wisconsin, you will stay firmly within the Midwest, moving from the state capital toward the shores of Lake Michigan. It is an ideal day trip, as the drive is efficient enough to complete in a single day without needing an overnight stay. Expect to budget roughly $17 for fuel to cover the distance. Whether you are heading east for business or a change of scenery, this highway-focused drive offers a reliable and predictable path across the southern part of the state.

Trip Pace

Same-day drive is realistic

A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.

Break Rhythm

0 planned breaks

A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.

Midpoint

56.8 miles from Madison, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is defined by its efficiency, with 87% of your travel time spent on major highways. You will primarily navigate via I-94, the North-South Freeway, and the Airport Freeway, making for a consistent and fast-paced experience. The longest uninterrupted stretch covers 63.3 miles on I-94, which serves as the backbone of your journey. Do not expect winding backroads here; instead, anticipate a direct, interstate-heavy transit that prioritizes speed and connectivity. It is a functional drive designed to get you from point A to point B with minimal deviation.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.

There are about 25 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 63.3 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 71.1 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 21 significant decision points across 113.6 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 71.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 72.3 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 21 key points

These are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.

71.1 mi into trip | ~1h 26m in

Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac

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 305A-B Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac

71.7 mi into trip | ~1h 27m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the slight left lane. Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US...

72.3 mi into trip | ~1h 28m in

Keep slight left at fork toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

80.8 mi into trip | ~1h 40m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

105.4 mi into trip | ~2h 7m in

Take the exit toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington

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 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington

Towns Along This Route

Between Madison, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Cth S: Kenosha, Burlington and Cth S East: Gateway Technical College.

Fond Du Lac

71.1 mi in | ~1h 26m

Cth S: Kenosha

105.4 mi in | ~2h 7m

Burlington

105.4 mi in | ~2h 7m

Cth S East: Gateway Technical College

105.6 mi in | ~2h 8m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	63.3 mi	1h 8m
North-South Freeway	23.3 mi	25m
Airport Freeway	4.3 mi	5m
Zoo Freeway	4 mi	5m
Burlington Road	3.6 mi	6m
Washington Road	3.3 mi	7m
WI 30	3.2 mi	4m
West Johnson Street	2.2 mi	7m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 63.3 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on CTH MS

317 ft · 18 sec · University Avenue

Turn left onto North Brooks Street

432 ft · 26 sec · North Brooks Street

Turn left onto West Johnson Street

2.2 mi · 7 min · West Johnson Street

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto North Baldwin Street

0.2 mi · 40 sec · North Baldwin Street

Turn left onto US 151

1.8 mi · 4 min · East Washington Avenue

Take the ramp

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Toward WI 30 East

Merge onto WI 30

3.2 mi · 4 min · WI 30

Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 94

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.6 mi · 1 min

Exit 305A-B Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.4 mi · 38 sec

Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago Use the slight left lane.

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 30 sec · this road

Exit 305A Toward I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

4.0 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway

Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

1.3 mi · 1 min · I 41; US 41

Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

23 mi · 25 min · North-South Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec

Exit 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

199 ft · 6 sec

Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha

Turn left onto WI 142

3.6 mi · 6 min · Burlington Road

Use the straight lane.

Continue on CTH S

3.3 mi · 7 min · Washington Road

Use the none lane.

Turn right onto WI 32

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Road

Turn left onto 54th Street

305 ft · 14 sec · 54th Street

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · 8th Avenue

Turn right onto 56th Street

43 ft · 1 sec · 56th Street

Arrive at destination

56th Street

Trip Plan

To make the most of your 2-hour and 24-minute transit, try to avoid peak commuting hours to ensure you maintain steady progress on the heavier traffic sections of the interstate. Since this is a relatively short trip, you have the flexibility to power through without formal stops, but keep an eye on your fuel gauge before leaving Madison to stay within your $17 estimate. Because the route relies so heavily on major freeways, stay alert for construction zones or lane shifts commonly found on these high-traffic arteries. Taking advantage of the direct nature of this route means you can easily plan your arrival time with confidence, as the predictable highway segments leave little room for unexpected delays.

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 56.8 miles from Madison, WI, or about 1h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.3 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 39m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 56.8 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 Kenosha, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Madison, 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 Madison, WI

This is one driving day of about 113.6 miles and 2h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Madison, WI.

This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.

You may only need one short stretch stop if conditions stay smooth.

The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 63.3 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 56.8 mi from Madison, WI · 1h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

57 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 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 56.8 miles from Madison, 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 63.3 miles.

Arriving in Kenosha, WI

The final approach into Kenosha, 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 Kenosha, 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

$17.25 one way

$34.51 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 40 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$19.02	$38.04
premium	$4.80	$21.45	$42.89
diesel	$5.64	$25.24	$50.48

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$17

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$42–$67

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 39.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.1	$11.93	$5.45
Efficient EV	28.4	$9.94	$4.54
EV Truck/SUV	45.4	$15.90	$7.27

Gas CO2

40 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (68% 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 data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Madison, WI

Evening in Madison on Sunday

Local time

6:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

42°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kenosha, WI

Evening in Kenosha on Sunday

Local time

6:50 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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

2h 24m 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 Madison, WI to Kenosha, WI covers 113.6 miles and takes about 2h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, North-South Freeway, 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 56.8 miles from Madison, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.25 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.

Between Madison, WI and Kenosha, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Cth S: Kenosha, Burlington and Cth S East: Gateway Technical College.

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Trip from Madison, WI to Kenosha, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Kenosha, WI

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Madison, WI

Kenosha, WI

Same local time

5 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 24m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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