Origin
Mercer, WI
Afternoon in Mercer on Monday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
48°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Mercer, WI to Racine, WI
Drive Time
5h 9m
Distance
313.1 mi
504 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$48
one way
EV Charging
Loading...
station data
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
4h 56m
★
6 AM
5h 9m
8 AM
5h 36m
10 AM
5h 19m
12 PM
5h 16m
3 PM
5h 20m
5 PM
5h 35m
8 PM
5h 1m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Mercer, WI
Wolrider YURTSEVEN
Racine, WI
Yan Krukau
Trip Overview
The drive from Mercer, WI to Racine, WI covers 313.1 miles and takes about 5h 9m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on US 51, Oneida Street, I 39 South for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.56 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
156.5 miles from Mercer, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 34m into the drive .
Drive Character
Expect a 5h 9m drive with frequent turns across 313.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
US 51 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
This is a straightforward 5h 9m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mercer, WI to Racine, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| US 51 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Oneida Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 39 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 10 East | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| US 45 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 41 South | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| Airport Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North-South Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Longest stretch:
US 51
— detailed segment metrics are refreshing.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Mercer, WI and Racine, WI.
1
Start on US 51
33 mi
·
48 min
·
US 51
2
Continue on Oneida Street
71 mi
·
1 hr 29 min
·
Oneida Street
3
Keep slight left to continue on I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
22 mi
·
24 min
·
I 39 South, US 51 South: Stevens Point, Madison
4
Continue straight
7.4 mi
·
7 min
5
Take the exit slight right toward US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
0.4 mi
·
58 sec
·
US 10 East, WI 66 West: Stevens Point, Waupaca, Appleton
6
Keep slight right to continue on US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
51 mi
·
1 hr
·
US 10 East: Appleton, Waupaca
7
Keep slight right to continue on US 45 South: Oshkosh
12 mi
·
14 min
·
US 45 South: Oshkosh
8
Take the exit slight left toward I 41 South: Milwaukee
1.1 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41 South: Milwaukee
9
Merge slight left
86 mi
·
1 hr 36 min
10
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Airport Freeway
11
Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
1.3 mi
·
1 min
·
I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
12
Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North-South Freeway
13
Take the exit slight right toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia
0.3 mi
·
31 sec
·
CTH K: Racine, Caledonia
14
Turn left onto Northwestern Avenue
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Northwestern Avenue
15
Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Northwestern Avenue
26 ft
·
Northwestern Avenue
16
Exit the roundabout onto Northwestern Avenue
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwestern Avenue
17
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Northwestern Avenue
92 ft
·
2 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
18
Exit the roundabout onto Northwestern Avenue
0.4 mi
·
35 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
19
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Street
72 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Street
20
Exit the roundabout onto State Street
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
21
Turn right onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
22
Turn right onto 6th Street
308 ft
·
18 sec
·
6th Street
23
Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue
285 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wisconsin Avenue
24
Turn left onto 7th Street
246 ft
·
8 sec
·
7th Street
25
Arrive at your destination
Trip Plan
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 156.5 miles from Mercer, WI, or about 2h 34m 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 19m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.5 miles or 2h 34m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 13m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Racine, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Mercer, 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 Mercer, WI
This is one driving day of about 313.1 miles and 5h 9m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Mercer, 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 156.5 mi from Mercer, WI · 2h 34m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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 156.5 miles from Mercer, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Arriving in Racine, WI
The final approach into Racine, 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 Racine, 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
$47.56 one way
$95.11 round trip
$3.86/gal
25.4 MPG avg
110 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.25 | $52.43 | $104.85 |
| premium | $4.80 | $59.11 | $118.21 |
| diesel | $5.64 | $69.56 | $139.12 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 93.9 | 1 | $32.88 | $15.03 |
| Efficient EV | 78.3 | 0 | $27.40 | $12.52 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.2 | 1 | $43.83 | $20.04 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 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
Racine, WI
Afternoon in Racine on Monday
Local time
2:46 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Along the Route
73°F
Stockton, IL
157 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
7 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
5h 9m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Mercer, WI to Racine, WI covers 313.1 miles and takes about 5h 9m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are US 51, Oneida Street, I 39 South. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 156.5 miles from Mercer, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.56 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left. A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
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 straightforward 5h 9m drive. You will face about 0 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
This route does not have any notably tricky sections. Most of the drive from Mercer, WI to Racine, WI is straightforward, with well-signed roads and simple exits.
The route from Mercer, WI to Racine, WI does not surface many named destination signs beyond the main corridor.
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