Trip from New Berlin, WI to Ladysmith, WI

Drive Time

5h 40m

Distance

283.6 mi

456 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$43

one way

EV Charging

None

0 DC fast

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 40 min

4 AM

5h 27m ★

6 AM

5h 40m

8 AM

6h 7m

10 AM

5h 49m

12 PM

5h 47m

3 PM

5h 51m

5 PM

6h 5m

8 PM

5h 32m

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

Best Time Drive vs Fly

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New Berlin, WI

Esteban Arango

Trip Overview

The drive from New Berlin, WI to Ladysmith, WI covers 283.6 miles and takes about 5h 40m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 94, I 90, East-West Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.6 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $43.08 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

141.8 miles from New Berlin, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 35m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 5h 40m highway drive covering 283.6 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and I 90. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.6 miles on I 94.

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

There are about 24 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 87.6 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 90. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 10.6 miles in near I 94 / East-West Freeway.

Route Complexity 8/10

Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 283.6 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 10.6 miles (I 94 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 64.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 93.2 miles (I 90; I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

10.6 mi into trip | ~14m in | I 94 / East-West Freeway

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 / East-West Freeway

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

64.1 mi into trip | ~1h 12m in | I 94

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Exit 240 Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wiscon...

93.2 mi into trip | ~1h 43m in | I 90; I 94

Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the straight lane.

156.7 mi into trip | ~2h 51m in | I 94

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94 toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Use the straight lane. Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

215.2 mi into trip | ~3h 54m in

Take the exit toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta

Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one

Exit 88 Toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta

Towns Along This Route

Between New Berlin, WI and Ladysmith, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Cth R: Osseo and Augusta.

Eau Claire

64.1 mi in | ~1h 12m | via I 94

Saint Paul

156.7 mi in | ~2h 51m | via I 94

Cth R: Osseo

215.2 mi in | ~3h 54m

Augusta

215.2 mi in | ~3h 54m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	87.6 mi	1h 34m
I 90	63.5 mi	1h 8m
East-West Freeway	60.2 mi	1h 4m
State Highway 27	55.2 mi	1h 21m
County Highway R	6.8 mi	11m
South Moorland Road	3.3 mi	6m
US 12	1.2 mi	2m
West 9th Street South	1.1 mi	1m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 87.6 mi, about 1h 34m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between New Berlin, WI and Ladysmith, WI.

Start on West National Avenue

69 ft · 2 sec · West National Avenue

Turn sharp right onto South Moorland Road

3.3 mi · 6 min · South Moorland Road

Take the ramp slight left

0.6 mi · 1 min

Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway

6.7 mi · 7 min · East-West Freeway

Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

29 mi · 31 min · I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire

Keep slight left

63 mi · 1 hr 8 min

Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

59 mi · 1 hr 2 min · I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul

Take the exit slight right toward US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta

0.3 mi · 33 sec · US 10, CTH R: Osseo, Augusta

Keep slight right

197 ft · 5 sec

Merge slight left onto 10th Street

0.6 mi · 1 min · 10th Street

Continue on US Highway 10

0.8 mi · 1 min · US Highway 10

Turn left onto County Road R

0.5 mi · 53 sec · County Road R

Continue on County Highway R

6.8 mi · 11 min · County Highway R

At the end of the road, turn right

1.2 mi · 2 min

Turn left onto State Highway 27

35 mi · 51 min · State Highway 27

Continue on South 3rd Street

0.6 mi · 50 sec · South 3rd Street

Turn right onto Bridge Street

0.9 mi · 1 min · Bridge Street

Continue on State Highway 27

21 mi · 30 min · State Highway 27

Continue on West 9th Street South

1.1 mi · 1 min · West 9th Street South

Turn right onto Miner Avenue West

0.3 mi · 1 min · Miner Avenue West

Turn right

443 ft · 33 sec

Turn right

36 ft · 3 sec

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 141.8 miles from New Berlin, WI, or about 2h 35m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.6 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 29m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 141.8 miles or 2h 35m 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 22m

Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Ladysmith, WI than in the middle of the route.

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving New Berlin, 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 New Berlin, WI

This is one driving day of about 283.6 miles and 5h 40m.

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

The longest stretch is on I 94 for about 87.6 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 141.8 mi from New Berlin, WI · 2h 35m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Rockford, IL

142 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

Rockford, IL

Fuel and coffee

A short stop after about 80 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.

Rockford, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 141.8 miles from New Berlin, 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 87.6 miles.

Arriving in Ladysmith, WI

The final approach into Ladysmith, 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 Ladysmith, WI.

These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.

National Parks Near This Route

Worth a detour if your schedule allows.

Ice Age National Scenic Trail

National Scenic Trail

The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...

26 mi from route ~64 min detour Free near mile 127.1

Caution: Hemlock Creek Segment — Logging Activities

Caution: Indian Creek Segment — Machinery and Parking Closure

View on nps.gov

Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.

Fuel & Cost

Regular Gas

$43.08 one way

$86.15 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 99 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$47.49	$94.97
premium	$4.80	$53.54	$107.08
diesel	$5.64	$63.01	$126.01

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$43

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$68–$93

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 99.2 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $30 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	85.1	1	$29.78	$13.61
Efficient EV	70.9	0	$24.82	$11.34
EV Truck/SUV	113.4	1	$39.70	$18.15

Gas CO2

99 kg

EV CO2

33 kg (67% 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.

Forecast data refreshed 3 days ago

Origin

New Berlin, WI

Late night in New Berlin on Monday

Local time

4:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

59°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Ladysmith, WI

Late night in Ladysmith on Monday

Local time

4:52 AM

CDT

Current temp

41°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

18 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 40m 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 New Berlin, WI to Ladysmith, WI covers 283.6 miles and takes about 5h 40m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 94, I 90, East-West 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 141.8 miles from New Berlin, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $43.08 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.

Between New Berlin, WI and Ladysmith, WI, road signs point toward Eau Claire, Saint Paul, Cth R: Osseo and Augusta.

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