Origin
North Hudson, WI
Afternoon in North Hudson on Saturday
Local time
1:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from North Hudson, WI to Oak Creek, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the Trip.ovh planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 18, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
6h 3m
Distance
324.2 mi
522 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$51
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
5h 50m
★
6 AM
6h 3m
8 AM
6h 29m
10 AM
6h 12m
12 PM
6h 10m
3 PM
6h 14m
5 PM
6h 28m
8 PM
5h 55m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
North Hudson, WI
Tom Fisk
Oak Creek, WI
Tom Fisk
Trip Overview
The drive from North Hudson, WI to Oak Creek, WI covers 324.2 miles and takes about 6h 3m 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, Airport Freeway for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is mostly highway. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 241.1 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.68 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
162.1 miles from North Hudson, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 2h 57m into the drive .
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 241.1 mi | 4h 19m |
| I 90 | 61.2 mi | 1h 5m |
| Airport Freeway | 4.3 mi | 5m |
| Zoo Freeway | 4 mi | 5m |
| North-South Freeway | 3.2 mi | 4m |
| East Puetz Road | 2.5 mi | 5m |
| Second Street | 1.7 mi | 4m |
| I 41 | 1.3 mi | 1m |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 241.1 mi, about 4h 19m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between North Hudson, WI and Oak Creek, WI.
1
Start on St Croix St North
55 ft
·
7 sec
·
St Croix St North
2
Turn left onto WI 35
0.3 mi
·
54 sec
·
Sixth Street North
3
Continue on WI 35
1.7 mi
·
4 min
·
Second Street
Use the straight / right lanes.
4
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 35
Toward Eau Claire, River Falls
Use the slight left lane.
5
Merge onto I 94; US 12; WI 35
177 mi
·
3 hr 9 min
·
I 94; US 12; WI 35
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Continue on I 90; I 94
61 mi
·
1 hr 5 min
·
I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
64 mi
·
1 hr 9 min
·
I 94
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
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.
9
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.
10
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
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
12
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
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.
15
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
3.2 mi
·
4 min
·
North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Take the exit
0.4 mi
·
47 sec
Exit 321
Toward Drexel Avenue
Use the slight right lane.
17
Turn left onto West Drexel Avenue
1.3 mi
·
3 min
·
West Drexel Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
18
Turn right onto WI 38
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
South Howell Avenue
Use the straight / left lanes.
19
Turn left onto East Puetz Road
2.5 mi
·
5 min
·
East Puetz Road
20
Arrive at destination
East Puetz Road
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.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 162.1 miles from North Hudson, WI, or about 2h 57m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 241.1 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 71 miles or 1h 20m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.1 miles or 2h 57m 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 49m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Oak Creek, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving North Hudson, 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 North Hudson, WI
This is one driving day of about 324.2 miles and 6h 3m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from North Hudson, 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 241.1 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Mid-route town
Meal stop
162 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
Fuel and coffee
A short stop after about 71 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 162.1 miles from North Hudson, 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 241.1 miles.
These stop ideas are pacing suggestions — the exact town or exit can change with traffic, hotel plans, and fuel range.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 165 decision points cluster between mile 2 and 314.6 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
8
2 mi into trip
|
~5m in
|
WI 35
Keep slight left at fork onto WI 35 toward Eau Claire, River Falls
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Toward Eau Claire, River Falls
8
240.7 mi into trip
|
~4h 22m in
|
I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
8
304.9 mi into trip
|
~5h 31m 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
305.5 mi into trip
|
~5h 32m 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...
9
314.6 mi into trip
|
~5h 45m 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
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.68 one way
$101.37 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
113 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $55.65 | $111.30 |
| premium | $4.89 | $62.39 | $124.78 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $71.58 | $143.16 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$51
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$76–$101
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 113.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging · 1 stop · 66% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 97.3 | 1 | $34.04 | $15.56 |
| Efficient EV | 81.1 | 0 | $28.37 | $12.97 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 129.7 | 1 | $45.39 | $20.75 |
Gas CO2
113 kg
EV CO2
38 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.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Destination
Oak Creek, WI
Afternoon in Oak Creek on Saturday
Local time
1:34 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Cloudy
W 15 mph
7% chance
Live forecast
64°F
Adams, WI
162 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
5 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
6h 3m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
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 178.9
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
What kind of drive is this?
324.2 mi in 6h 3m, mostly highway — 241.1 mi of that is on I 94.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
20 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 241.1 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
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 2 miles in near WI 35.
Driving Effort
9/10
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 16 significant decision points across 324.2 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 2 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 240.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 304.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
On the drive from North Hudson, WI to Oak Creek, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.
Fond Du Lac
304.9 mi in
|
~5h 31m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 3m. Total distance: 324.2 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 3m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 241.1 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at Oak Creek, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 2 miles (WI 35): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 240.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 304.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.1 hours each way, a round trip means 12.1 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Oak Creek, WI before the return drive.
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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