Trip from Milwaukee, WI to Manitowoc, WI

Drive Time

1h 33m

Distance

80.3 mi

129 km

Drive Score

7/10

Good drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$11

one way

Trip Overview

The drive from Milwaukee, WI to Manitowoc, WI covers 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m 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 Plankinton Avenue, West Kilbourn Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is turn-heavy local drive. At current regular gas prices, budget about $10.91 one way before food or hotel costs.

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

40.1 miles from Milwaukee, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 46m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a 1h 33m drive with frequent turns across 80.3 miles of local and secondary roads.

This route has more turning and local-road decision points than a simple highway run.
There are about 13 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.
East Wisconsin Avenue is one of the defining roads on this drive.

Main Roads

Road Distance Duration
East Wisconsin Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
North Plankinton Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
West Kilbourn Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
I 43 North Unavailable Refreshing
North-South Freeway Unavailable Refreshing
US 151 Unavailable Refreshing
Calumet Avenue Unavailable Refreshing
Washington Street Unavailable Refreshing

Per-road distance and duration are being refreshed from OSRM for this route.

Longest stretch: East Wisconsin Avenue — detailed segment metrics are refreshing.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Milwaukee, WI and Manitowoc, WI.

1

Start on North Milwaukee Street

46 ft · 6 sec · North Milwaukee Street
2

Turn right onto East Wisconsin Avenue

0.2 mi · 42 sec · East Wisconsin Avenue
3

Turn right onto North Plankinton Avenue

0.2 mi · 37 sec · North Plankinton Avenue
4

Turn left onto West Kilbourn Avenue

0.3 mi · 51 sec · West Kilbourn Avenue
5

Take the ramp straight toward I 43 North

0.8 mi · 1 min · I 43 North
6

Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway

20 mi · 24 min · North-South Freeway
7

Continue straight

55 mi · 59 min
8

Take the exit slight right toward US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac

0.2 mi · 30 sec · US 151, WI 42 Business, LMCT: Manitowoc, Fond du Lac
9

Keep slight right

171 ft · 4 sec
10

Turn straight onto Calumet Avenue

2.0 mi · 3 min · Calumet Avenue
11

Continue on Washington Street

1.1 mi · 2 min · Washington Street
12

Turn right onto South 8th Street

92 ft · 4 sec · South 8th Street
13

Arrive at your destination

Trip Plan

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 40.1 miles from Milwaukee, WI, or about 46m 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 40.1 miles or 46m 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 19m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Manitowoc, WI 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.

Day 1

Settle into the route from Milwaukee, WI

This is one driving day of about 80.3 miles and 1h 33m.

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

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 40.1 mi from Milwaukee, WI · 46m into the drive

Downtown Waukegan, IL, IL

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

40 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 40.1 miles from Milwaukee, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Arriving in Manitowoc, WI

The final approach into Manitowoc, 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 Manitowoc, 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

$10.91 one way

$21.81 round trip

$3.45/gal 25.4 MPG avg 28 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $3.85 $12.17 $24.34
premium $4.15 $13.12 $26.24
diesel $3.75 $11.86 $23.71

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$11

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$36–$61

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 28.1 kg one way.

Driving Electric?

About $8 in charging · 0 stops · 68% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 24.1 0 $8.43 $3.85
Efficient EV 20.1 0 $7.03 $3.21
EV Truck/SUV 32.1 0 $11.24 $5.14

Gas CO2

28 kg

EV CO2

9 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

Local time and weather at both ends of the drive

Current conditions at both ends of the drive. If you're planning ahead, check the forecast closer to your travel date.

Forecast data refreshed 1 day ago

Origin

Milwaukee, WI

Morning in Milwaukee on Saturday

Local time

10:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Destination

Manitowoc, WI

Morning in Manitowoc on Saturday

Local time

10:53 AM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Forecast unavailable right now

CDT Live mapsof forecast

Along the Route

43°F

Waukegan, IL

40 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

Very similar conditions

Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.

Road read

1h 33m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Milwaukee, WI to Manitowoc, WI covers 80.3 miles and takes about 1h 33m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are East Wisconsin Avenue, North Plankinton Avenue, West Kilbourn Avenue. Expect a mix of highway and local road driving.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 40.1 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 $10.91 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.

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Explore More

Return Trip

Manitowoc, WI to Milwaukee, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

81.3 mi 1h 21m

Explore more options from Milwaukee, WI or browse trips ending in Manitowoc, WI.

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