Origin
Milwaukee, WI
Night in Milwaukee on Friday
Local time
11:13 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Milwaukee, WI to Fitchburg, MA
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 17, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
20h 20m
Distance
1069.6 mi
1,721 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
3-day trip
Fuel Cost
$167
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
20h 2m
★
6 AM
20h 20m
8 AM
20h 57m
10 AM
20h 33m
12 PM
20h 29m
3 PM
20h 35m
5 PM
20h 55m
8 PM
20h 9m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Fitchburg, MA
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Milwaukee, WI to Fitchburg, MA covers 1069.6 miles and takes about 20h 20m behind the wheel. It usually feels better as a 3-day road trip than as one long push.
The route leans on I 80, I 84, Ohio Turnpike for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is long-distance drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 278.5 miles on I 80. At current regular gas prices, budget about $167.22 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Best split across 3 days
Treat the return leg as its own travel day rather than an afterthought.
Break Rhythm
5 planned breaks
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
534.8 miles from Milwaukee, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 9h 58m into the drive .
Drive Character
At 1069.6 miles and 20h 20m of driving, this is a route where fuel stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single turn. The main roads are I 80 and I 84.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 61 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
I 80 is the longest continuous segment at about 278.5 miles.
How Hard Is This Drive?
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 80 and I 84. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.8 miles in.
Driving Effort
10/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 45 significant decision points across 1069.6 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 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Critical Maneuvers
5 of 45 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
7
0.8 mi into trip
|
~1m in
Take the exit toward I 43, I 94 East: Chicago, Green Bay
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1B-C
Toward I 43, I 94 East: Chicago, Green Bay
9
1.1 mi into trip
|
~2m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 43 South, I 94: Chicago
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 43 South, I 94: Chicago
8
40.6 mi into trip
|
~48m in
|
US 41 / North Skokie Highway
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41 / North Skokie Highway toward US 41 South: Waukegan
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 1B
Toward US 41 South: Waukegan
8
95.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 57m in
|
I 90 / Chicago Skyway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90 / Chicago Skyway toward I 90 East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
8
1035.8 mi into trip
|
~19h 34m in
Take the exit toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
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 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Milwaukee, WI and Fitchburg, MA, road signs point toward Cr 18: Youngstown, Milford and Waterbury.
Cr 18: Youngstown
479.1 mi in
|
~8h 57m
|
via I 80
Milford
792.8 mi in
|
~14h 43m
Waterbury
925.8 mi in
|
~17h 21m
|
via I 84; US 6
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 80 | 278.5 mi | 5h 2m |
| I 84 | 231.4 mi | 4h 36m |
| Ohio Turnpike | 218.2 mi | 3h 53m |
| Indiana Toll Road | 156.8 mi | 2h 52m |
| North-South Freeway | 38.8 mi | 44m |
| I 81 | 34.7 mi | 42m |
| I 190 | 19.1 mi | 22m |
| North Skokie Highway | 18.8 mi | 22m |
Longest stretch:
I 80
— 278.5 mi, about 5h 2m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee, WI and Fitchburg, MA.
1
Start on US 18; WI 32
45 ft
·
8 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
2
Turn left onto East Wisconsin Avenue
0.1 mi
·
25 sec
·
East Wisconsin Avenue
3
Turn right onto North Jackson Street
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
·
North Jackson Street
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 794 West
Use the straight / slight right / right lanes.
5
Merge onto I 794
0.2 mi
·
21 sec
·
East-West Freeway
6
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
Exit 1B-C
Toward I 43, I 94 East: Chicago, Green Bay
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1B
Toward I 43 South, I 94: Chicago
Use the slight left lane.
8
Merge onto I 43; I 94
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
·
North-South Freeway
10
Continue on I 94
34 mi
·
37 min
·
North-South Freeway
Exit 316-319
Toward WIS 94 East, US 41: Layton Ave, College Ave, Chicago
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto US 41
19 mi
·
22 min
·
North Skokie Highway
Exit 1B
Toward US 41 South: Waukegan
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
12
Continue on US 41
3.4 mi
·
3 min
·
Skokie Valley Road
13
Continue on US 41
3.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Skokie Highway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Continue on I 94; US 41
14 mi
·
17 min
·
Edens Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Continue on I 90; I 94
8.1 mi
·
11 min
·
Kennedy Expressway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
16
Continue on I 90; I 94
2.4 mi
·
2 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Express)
Toward I 90 Express, I 94 Express
18
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
53 sec
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
Use the right lane.
19
Merge onto I 90; I 94
0.5 mi
·
49 sec
·
Dan Ryan Expressway (Local)
Use the slight left lane.
20
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
4.5 mi
·
6 min
·
Chicago Skyway
Exit 59A
Toward I 90 East
Use the slight left lane.
21
Turn straight onto I 90
0.1 mi
·
14 sec
·
Chicago Skyway
22
Merge onto I 90
3.1 mi
·
5 min
·
Chicago Skyway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Continue on I 90
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
24
Turn straight onto I 90
0.2 mi
·
1 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
25
Merge onto I 90
1.8 mi
·
2 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
26
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90
154 mi
·
2 hr 46 min
·
Indiana Toll Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
27
Continue on I 80; I 90
142 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
28
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
9.2 mi
·
9 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
29
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
67 mi
·
1 hr 11 min
·
Ohio Turnpike
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
30
Take the exit onto I 80
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
I 80
Exit 218
Toward I 80 East
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
31
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
0.3 mi
·
32 sec
·
I 80
Toward I 80 East, CR 18: Youngstown, Mahoning Avenue
32
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
4.5 mi
·
5 min
·
I 80
Toward I 80 East: Youngstown
33
Keep slight left at fork onto I 80
273 mi
·
4 hr 54 min
·
I 80
34
Take the exit
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 260B
Toward I 81 North: Wilkes-Barre
35
Merge onto I 81
35 mi
·
42 min
·
I 81
36
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
51 sec
Toward I-84 east, US 6 east
37
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
35 sec
38
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 84 East, I 380 South: Mt Pocono, Milford
39
Merge onto I 84; I 380
3.4 mi
·
4 min
·
I 84; I 380
40
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84
129 mi
·
2 hr 32 min
·
I 84
Toward I 84 East: Milford
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84; US 6
43 mi
·
50 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward Waterbury
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
42
Keep slight right at fork onto I 84
14 mi
·
19 min
·
I 84
Use the slight right lane.
43
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
2.3 mi
·
2 min
·
I 84; US 6
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
44
Keep slight left at fork onto I 84; US 6
40 mi
·
46 min
·
I 84; US 6
Toward I 84 East: Boston
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
45
Merge onto I 90
11 mi
·
12 min
·
Massachusetts Turnpike
46
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
1 min
Exit 90
Toward I 395, MA 12, I 290: Auburn, Worcester
Use the slight right lane.
47
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
19 sec
Toward I 395, MA 12 North, I 290
48
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Toward I 395, I 290
49
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
41 sec
Toward I 290
50
Continue on I 290
7.5 mi
·
10 min
·
I 290
51
Take the exit
0.1 mi
·
13 sec
Exit 19; 20
Toward I 190 North, MA 70: Sterling, Leominster, Burncoat Street, Lincoln Street
52
Keep slight left at fork
0.4 mi
·
32 sec
Exit 22
Toward I 190 North: Sterling, Leominster
53
Continue on I 190
18 mi
·
20 min
·
I 190
54
Continue on I 190
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
I 190
Exit 19A
Toward Fitchburg
55
Merge onto MA 2
2.8 mi
·
4 min
·
Concord Turnpike
56
Turn right onto Abbott Avenue
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
Abbott Avenue
57
At end of road, turn left onto MA 12
1.6 mi
·
2 min
·
Water Street
58
Continue on MA 2A
366 ft
·
9 sec
·
Water Street
59
Turn left onto Main Street
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Main Street
60
Turn left
118 ft
·
8 sec
61
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.
This drive is better paced as a 3-day trip.
Plan roughly 5 meaningful breaks for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 534.8 miles from Milwaukee, WI, or about 9h 58m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 278.5 miles.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 220 miles or 4h 18m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 534.8 miles or 9h 58m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Overnight split
Day 1 wrap after about 356.5 miles or 6h 45m
Stop before fatigue turns the last few hours into a grind. You want day two to start fresh, not just resumed.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 19h 3m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Fitchburg, MA than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
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.
+
Pick one backup stop option before the midpoint in case traffic changes your pacing.
+
Treat this as a 3-day road trip and book the overnight stop before the busiest arrival window.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Milwaukee, WI
Aim for roughly 357 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 2
Keep the middle miles efficient
Aim for roughly 357 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Day 3
Finish the approach into Fitchburg, MA
Aim for roughly 357 miles and 6.8 hours of wheel time on this day.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 220 miles from Milwaukee, WI.
This route usually feels better as a 3-day drive than as one long push.
Plan about 5 real breaks rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 80 for about 278.5 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Halfway Point
Midpoint
About 534.8 mi from Milwaukee, WI · 9h 58m into the drive
First major stop
Coffee and fuel
353 mi into the route
Best for: Coffee, fuel, and an easy first stretch
This is a natural early stop once the first hours of the drive are behind you.
Second major stop
Overnight candidate
706 mi into the route
Best for: Hotel check-in, dinner, and a fresh start
This lines up well with a realistic day-end stop if you are breaking the drive into stages.
Find hotels in Ramapo, NYOvernight Options
Night 1
357 mi · about 6.8h in
A practical overnight split lands near Bethel Park, PA after about 357 miles or 6.8 hours of driving.
Find hotelsNight 2
713 mi · about 13.6h in
A practical overnight split lands near Ramapo, NY after about 713 miles or 13.6 hours of driving.
Find hotelsPacing Suggestions
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 220 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 534.8 miles from Milwaukee, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Overnight split
Hotel stopFor a steadier pace, wrap day one after about 357 miles or 6.8 hours on the road.
Final-third reset
Rest stopPlan one more short stretch-and-water break in the final third of the drive so the last arrival window feels easier.
Arriving in Fitchburg, MA
The final approach into Fitchburg, MA 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 Fitchburg, MA.
On a multi-day trip, keep the last day a little lighter so you reach Fitchburg, MA with some flexibility left in the schedule.
After long uninterrupted mileage, take five minutes before the last urban segment to reset and refocus on exits, merges, and city traffic.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$167.22 one way
$334.44 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
374 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $183.60 | $367.20 |
| premium | $4.89 | $205.83 | $411.67 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $236.15 | $472.31 |
Estimated Tolls: $29.43
Indiana Toll Road
(156.8 mi)
$10.98
Ohio Turnpike
(218.2 mi)
$10.90
Chicago Skyway
$6.15
Massachusetts Turnpike
(11.2 mi)
$0.67
Chicago Skyway
(7.6 mi)
$0.53
Concord Turnpike
(2.8 mi)
$0.20
Toll estimates based on average 2024-2025 rates. EZ-Pass/SunPass discounts may lower the actual cost.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$167
Tolls
$29
Hotel (2n)
$160–$280
Meals
$75–$150
Total
$432–$627
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 374.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $112 in charging · 3 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 320.9 | 3 | $112.31 | $51.34 |
| Efficient EV | 267.4 | 3 | $93.59 | $42.78 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 427.8 | 5 | $149.74 | $68.45 |
Gas CO2
374 kg
EV CO2
125 kg (67% less)
Plan for 3 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.
Destination
Fitchburg, MA
Late night in Fitchburg on Saturday
Local time
12:13 AM
EDT
Current temp
39°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
57°F
Ramapo, NY
706 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.
For long drives, weather on day two can matter just as much as conditions at departure, so check the whole travel window rather than only the first day.
Time zone
1 hour later
The destination clock does not match departure time, so double-check hotel check-in windows and late arrival plans.
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
20h 20m on the road
This is long enough that the arrival forecast matters almost as much as departure conditions. Recheck both ends before you roll.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Frequently Asked Questions
The drive from Milwaukee, WI to Fitchburg, MA covers 1069.6 miles and takes about 20h 20m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 80, I 84, Ohio Turnpike. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
Consider an overnight stop or starting very early.
Yes. This route is usually more comfortable as a 3-day drive. A sensible stopping point is after roughly 357 miles on day one.
The midpoint is about 534.8 miles from Milwaukee, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $167.22 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 5 meaningful breaks 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 45 significant decision points across 1069.6 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.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 1.1 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 40.6 miles (US 41 / North Skokie Highway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Between Milwaukee, WI and Fitchburg, MA, road signs point toward Cr 18: Youngstown, Milford and Waterbury.
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.
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