The drive from Oak Creek, WI to New Richmond, WI covers 324.5 miles and takes about 6h 4m behind the wheel.
This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, East-West Freeway, I 90 for much of the mileage,
and the overall profile is mostly highway.
The longest uninterrupted segment is about 165.7 miles on I 94.
At current regular gas prices, budget about $50.73 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
162.3 miles from Oak Creek, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 4m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
165.7 mi
2h 57m
East-West Freeway
63.8 mi
1h 9m
I 90
63.5 mi
1h 8m
State Highway 65
9.9 mi
14m
I 41
5.9 mi
8m
Airport Freeway
4.6 mi
6m
North-South Freeway
2.5 mi
3m
East Puetz Road
2.4 mi
5m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 165.7 mi, about 2h 57m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Oak Creek, WI and New Richmond, WI.
1
Start on East Puetz Road
2.4 mi·5 min·East Puetz Road
2
Turn right onto WI 38
1.0 mi·1 min·South Howell Avenue
Use the left lane.
3
Turn left onto West Drexel Avenue
1.2 mi·2 min·West Drexel Avenue
Use the left lane.
4
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·43 sec
Toward I 41 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
5
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
2.5 mi·3 min·North-South Freeway
6
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41
0.6 mi·49 sec·I 41; I 94; US 41
Exit 317Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
7
Continue on I 41; US 41
1.1 mi·1 min·I 41; US 41
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.6 mi·6 min·Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41
4.2 mi·5 min·I 41; I 894; US 41
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
10
Take the exit
0.2 mi·16 sec
Exit 1B-AToward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, MilwaukeeUse the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.6 mi·56 sec
Exit 1BToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the slight left lane.
12
Keep slight left at fork
0.1 mi·11 sec
Toward I 94 West: Madison
13
Merge onto I 94
10 mi·11 min·East-West Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
14
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
54 mi·57 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
29 mi·31 min·I 94
Exit 240Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau ClaireUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 90; I 94
63 mi·1 hr 8 min·I 90; I 94
Use the straight lane.
17
Keep slight right at fork onto I 94
137 mi·2 hr 26 min·I 94
Toward I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint PaulUse the straight lane.
18
Take the exit onto Exit 10
0.3 mi·32 sec·Exit 10
Exit 10Toward WI 65: River Falls, New Richmond
19
Keep slight right at fork
257 ft·6 sec
Toward WI 65 NORTH
20
Turn straight onto WI 65
1.2 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
Toward Roberts, New Richmond
21
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
114 ft·6 sec·State Highway 65
22
Continue on WI 65
0.9 mi·1 min·State Highway 65
Use the straight lane.
23
Turn right onto US 12; WI 65
1.1 mi·1 min·US-12 & WI-65
Use the straight / left lanes.
24
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
204 ft·11 sec·State Highway 65
25
Continue on WI 65
5.9 mi·8 min·State Highway 65
26
Enter roundabout onto WI 65
139 ft·2 sec·State Highway 65
27
Continue on WI 65
1.5 mi·2 min·State Highway 65
28
Continue on WI 65
0.2 mi·28 sec·State Highway 65
29
Continue on WI 65
1.3 mi·3 min·South Knowles Avenue
30
Turn right onto CTH K
259 ft·8 sec·East 1st Street
31
Arrive at destination
CTH K
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 162.3 miles from Oak Creek, WI, or about 3h 4m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 165.7 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 26m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 162.3 miles or 3h 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 4h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Richmond, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Oak Creek, 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 Oak Creek, WI
This is one driving day of about 324.5 miles and 6h 4m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 71 miles from Oak Creek, 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 165.7 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 24
5 decision points cluster between mile 7.6 and 82.7 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
9
7.6 mi into trip|~14m in|I 41; I 94; US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 317
Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Ma...
8
13.8 mi into trip|~22m in|I 41; I 894; US 41
Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41 toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Toward I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US...
8
18 mi into trip|~28m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
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 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
18.2 mi into trip|~28m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 West: Madison
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 1B
Toward I 94 West: Madison
9
82.7 mi into trip|~1h 39m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$50.73 one way
$101.46 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg114 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$55.70
$111.40
premium
$4.89
$62.45
$124.89
diesel
$5.61
$71.65
$143.29
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: 113.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $34 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
97.4
1
$34.07
$15.58
Efficient EV
81.1
0
$28.39
$12.98
EV Truck/SUV
129.8
1
$45.43
$20.77
Gas CO2
114 kg
EV CO2
38 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 as of Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Oak Creek, WI
Afternoon
in Oak Creek on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Cloudy
W 15 mph7% chanceLive forecast
Flash Flood Watch
Flash Flood Watch issued April 18 at 12:10AM CDT until April 19 at 7:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 17 at 11:18PM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Destination
New Richmond, WI
Afternoon
in New Richmond on Saturday
Local time
1:07 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
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
3 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
6h 4m 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 145.5
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.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
324.5 mi in 6h 4m, mostly highway — 165.7 mi of that is on I 94.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
31 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 165.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
8/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and East-West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 7.6 miles in near I 41; I 94; US 41.
Driving Effort8/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 24 significant decision points across 324.5 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 7.6 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.8 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 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.
Between Oak Creek, WI and New Richmond, WI, road signs point toward Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Saint Paul.
Milwaukee
18 mi in|~28m
Eau Claire
82.7 mi in|~1h 39m|via I 94
Saint Paul
175.3 mi in|~3h 18m|via I 94
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 4m. Total distance: 324.5 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 4m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 165.7 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 New Richmond, 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 7.6 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 13.8 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 18 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 12.2 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at New Richmond, 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.
