Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
5h 47m
Distance
313.5 mi
505 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$49
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
New Richmond, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
The drive from New Richmond, WI to Milwaukee, WI covers 313.5 miles and takes about 5h 47m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, State Highway 65, South Knowles Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 299 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $49.01 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
156.8 miles from New Richmond, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 55m into the drive .
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 299 mi | 5h 23m |
| State Highway 65 | 10.1 mi | 14m |
| South Knowles Avenue | 1.3 mi | 3m |
| WI 65 | 1.1 mi | 1m |
| East-West Freeway | 1 mi | 1m |
| North Milwaukee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Saint Paul Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| East 1st Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Step-by-step road directions between New Richmond, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
Start on CTH K
Turn left onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Turn slight right onto WI 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
Continue on WI 65
Enter roundabout
Continue
Merge onto I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
Take the exit
Turn slight right
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
Turn right onto WI 32
Arrive at 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 69 miles or 1h 21m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 156.8 miles or 2h 55m 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 43m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Milwaukee, WI than in the middle of the route.
Open the route before leaving New Richmond, 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 Richmond, WI
This is one driving day of about 313.5 miles and 5h 47m.
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
157 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 69 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
The midpoint is around 156.8 miles from New Richmond, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.
Before the longest stretch
Fuel checkTop up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 299 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
5 decision points cluster between mile 12.3 and 312.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
Enter roundabout onto WI 65 / State Highway 65 toward River Falls
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
Enter roundabout toward Eau Claire, Madison
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Take the exit toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Regular Gas
$49.01 one way
$98.02 round trip
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $53.81 | $107.63 |
| premium | $4.89 | $60.33 | $120.66 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $69.22 | $138.43 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 109.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 94.1 | 1 | $32.92 | $15.05 |
| Efficient EV | 78.4 | 0 | $27.43 | $12.54 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 125.4 | 1 | $43.89 | $20.06 |
Gas CO2
110 kg
EV CO2
37 kg (66% 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.
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Origin
Afternoon in New Richmond on Saturday
Local time
2:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Cloudy
Destination
Afternoon in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
2:47 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
64°F
Adams, WI
157 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.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
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...
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
This is a 5h 47m highway drive covering 313.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and State Highway 65. The longest continuous stretch is about 299 miles on I 94.
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 65. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 12.3 miles in near WI 65 / State Highway 65.
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 313.5 miles you will encounter 16 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.3 miles (WI 65 / State Highway 65): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 12.4 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 241.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 47m. Total distance: 313.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
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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