Drive Time
4h 17m
Distance
218.1 mi
351 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$30
one way
Photo: Anete Lusina
The drive from Milwaukee, WI to Ettrick, WI covers 218.1 miles and takes about 4h 17m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on East Wisconsin Avenue, North Jackson Street, I 794 West for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $29.62 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
109.1 miles from Milwaukee, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 8m into the drive .
Expect a 4h 17m drive with frequent turns across 218.1 miles of local and secondary roads.
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| East Wisconsin Avenue | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| North Jackson Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 794 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East-West Freeway | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 39 North | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| I 90 West | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| WI 16 | Unavailable | Refreshing |
| East Wisconsin Street | Unavailable | Refreshing |
Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.
Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee, WI and Ettrick, WI.
Start on North Milwaukee Street
Turn left onto East Wisconsin Avenue
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
Take the ramp slight right toward I 794 West
Merge slight right onto East-West Freeway
Continue on East-West Freeway
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
Keep slight left
Keep slight left to continue on I 90 West: Tomah, La Crosse
Take the exit slight right toward WI 16: Sparta
Keep slight right
Turn straight onto East Wisconsin Street
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Highway 16
Exit the roundabout onto State Highway 16
Continue on East Wisconsin Street
Turn right onto East Avenue
Turn left onto East Oak Street
Turn right onto South Water Street
Turn left onto West Montgomery Street
Turn right onto North Black River Street
Continue on State Highway 27
Turn left onto State Highway 71
Turn right onto State Highway 108
Continue on Sparta Street
Continue on North Washington Street
Continue on State Highway 54
Turn left onto County Highway D
Continue on County Road D
Continue on South Main Street
Arrive at your destination
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.
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 34m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 109.1 miles or 2h 8m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 31m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ettrick, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving Milwaukee, 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 Milwaukee, WI
This is one driving day of about 218.1 miles and 4h 17m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 109.1 mi from Milwaukee, WI · 2h 8m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
109 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.
A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 109.1 miles from Milwaukee, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
The final approach into Ettrick, 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 Ettrick, WI.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Regular Gas
$29.62 one way
$59.25 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $3.85 | $33.06 | $66.12 |
| premium | $4.15 | $35.63 | $71.27 |
| diesel | $3.75 | $32.20 | $64.40 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$30
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$55–$80
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 76.3 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $23 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 65.4 | 0 | $22.90 | $10.47 |
| Efficient EV | 54.5 | 0 | $19.08 | $8.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 87.2 | 1 | $30.53 | $13.96 |
Gas CO2
76 kg
EV CO2
26 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.
Origin
Morning in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Destination
Morning in Ettrick on Saturday
Local time
10:56 AM
CDT
Current temp
38°F
Forecast unavailable right now
Along the Route
43°F
Rockford, IL
109 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
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
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