Trip from Monona, WI to Kenosha, WI

Drive Time

2h 17m

Distance

112.3 mi

181 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$17

one way

EV Charging

Loading...

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min
4 AM
2h 8m ★
6 AM
2h 17m
8 AM
2h 36m
10 AM
2h 24m
12 PM
2h 22m
3 PM
2h 25m
5 PM
2h 36m
8 PM
2h 12m

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

Downtown Monona, WI, WI

Monona, WI

Tom Fisk

Downtown Kenosha, WI, WI

Kenosha, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Driving from Monona to Kenosha is a straightforward 112.3-mile journey that typically takes about 2 hours and 17 minutes. Because this is a compact trip within the Midwest, it is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion, meaning you won't need to worry about overnight logistics. Expect to spend roughly $17 on fuel, making it an efficient way to travel between these two Wisconsin locations. The route relies heavily on major thoroughfares, providing a predictable experience for those looking to reach their destination quickly. Whether you are heading out for business or a quick visit, this drive offers a reliable connection without the need for complex planning.

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

56.2 miles from Monona, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 4m into the drive .

Drive Character

Expect a focused highway experience, as 87% of your time behind the wheel will be spent on major roads like I-94, the North-South Freeway, and the Airport Freeway. You will encounter a longest uninterrupted stretch of 63.3 miles on I-94, which defines the core of this highway-centric drive. The transition between these high-speed segments keeps the pace consistent, offering a steady flow rather than technical turns or winding backroads. While you shouldn't anticipate much variety in road type, the infrastructure is designed for efficiency and steady cruising. It is the type of drive where you can settle into a rhythm and cover the distance with minimal stress.

Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 23 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.

Elevation Profile

Mostly flat terrain

1,001 ft 600 ft

Total Climb

357 ft

Total Descent

637 ft

Highest Point

1,001 ft

~9.4 mi in

Elevation Range

400 ft

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 69.8 miles in.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 112.3 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 69.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 19 key points

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

8
69.8 mi into trip | ~1h 18m 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
8
70.4 mi into trip | ~1h 20m 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...
7
71 mi into trip | ~1h 21m 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
9
79.5 mi into trip | ~1h 33m 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 straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
8
104.1 mi into trip | ~2h 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 Monona, 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

69.8 mi in | ~1h 18m

Cth S: Kenosha

104.1 mi in | ~2h

Burlington

104.1 mi in | ~2h

Cth S East: Gateway Technical College

104.3 mi in | ~2h 1m

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
South Stoughton Road 3 mi 4m
WI 30 1.8 mi 2m
Longest stretch: I 94 — 63.3 mi, about 1h 8m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

1

Start on Nichols Road

0.4 mi · 59 sec · Nichols Road
2

Continue on Pflaum Road

0.9 mi · 2 min · Pflaum Road
Use the left / straight / right lanes.
3

Turn left onto US 51

3.0 mi · 4 min · South Stoughton Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
4

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 29 sec
5

Merge onto WI 30

1.8 mi · 2 min · WI 30
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6

Merge onto I 94

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min · I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7

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.
8

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.
9

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
10

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
11

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

4.0 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12

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

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13

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 straight / slight right lanes.
14

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

23 mi · 25 min · North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 30 sec
Exit 340 Toward WI 142, CTH S: Kenosha, Burlington Use the slight right lane.
16

Keep slight left at fork

199 ft · 6 sec
Toward CTH S East: Gateway Technical College, Kenosha
17

Turn left onto WI 142

3.6 mi · 6 min · Burlington Road
Use the straight lane.
18

Continue on CTH S

3.3 mi · 7 min · Washington Road
19

Turn right onto WI 32

0.9 mi · 1 min · Sheridan Road
20

Turn left onto 54th Street

305 ft · 14 sec · 54th Street
21

Turn right onto 8th Avenue

0.1 mi · 31 sec · 8th Avenue
22

Turn right onto 56th Street

43 ft · 1 sec · 56th Street
23

Arrive at destination

56th Street

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip, you have plenty of flexibility regarding when you hit the road. To avoid the heaviest traffic, try to time your departure to skip local peak commuting hours. Because there are no mandatory stops listed, you can easily complete the entire 112.3-mile stretch in one go, though you should keep your $17 fuel budget in mind before departing. If you prefer a more relaxed pace, take advantage of the ability to pull off the interstate whenever you need a break. My best tip for this route is to monitor real-time traffic reports for I-94, as highway conditions can change quickly depending on the time of day.

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 56.2 miles from Monona, WI, or about 1h 4m 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 33m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 56.2 miles or 1h 4m 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 47m

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 Monona, 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 Monona, WI

This is one driving day of about 112.3 miles and 2h 17m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Monona, 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 56.2 mi from Monona, WI · 1h 4m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

56 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 56.2 miles from Monona, 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

$17.06 one way

$34.11 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 39 kg CO2
Fuel Type $/gal One Way Round Trip
midgrade $4.25 $18.80 $37.61
premium $4.80 $21.20 $42.40
diesel $5.64 $24.95 $49.90

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: 39.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2

Vehicle Type kWh Stops DC Fast Home Charge
Average EV 33.7 0 $11.79 $5.39
Efficient EV 28.1 0 $9.83 $4.49
EV Truck/SUV 44.9 0 $15.72 $7.19

Gas CO2

39 kg

EV CO2

13 kg (67% 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 3 days ago

Origin

Monona, WI

Evening in Monona on Sunday

Local time

6:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Kenosha, WI

Evening in Kenosha on Sunday

Local time

6:46 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

6 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 17m 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 Monona, WI to Kenosha, WI covers 112.3 miles and takes about 2h 17m 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 56.2 miles from Monona, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.
At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.06 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 19 significant decision points across 112.3 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 69.8 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 70.4 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 71 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Between Monona, 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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Return Trip

Kenosha, WI to Monona, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

112.3 mi 2h 16m

Explore more options from Monona, WI or browse trips ending in Kenosha, WI.

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