Trip from Pleasant Prairie, WI to Waunakee, WI

Drive Time

2h 16m

Distance

116.4 mi

187 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$18

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 28 min

4 AM

2h 7m ★

6 AM

2h 16m

8 AM

2h 35m

10 AM

2h 23m

12 PM

2h 21m

3 PM

2h 24m

5 PM

2h 34m

8 PM

2h 11m

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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Pleasant Prairie, WI

Tom Fisk

Waunakee, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

Traveling from Pleasant Prairie to Waunakee is a straightforward 116.4-mile journey across Wisconsin. You can expect to spend about 2 hours and 16 minutes behind the wheel, making this a perfect candidate for a single-day trip. With a fuel budget of approximately $18, it is a highly economical route for those looking to traverse the Midwest efficiently. You will primarily utilize the East-West Freeway, I-41, and I-94 to reach your destination. Because the entire drive takes place within the state, you won't need to worry about major regional shifts or long-distance logistics. It is an ideal path for travelers who value a direct, no-fuss connection between these two Wisconsin communities.

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

58.2 miles from Pleasant Prairie, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 10m into the drive .

Drive Character

This trip is defined by a heavy reliance on high-speed infrastructure, with 96% of your travel occurring on highways. You will experience a very consistent, highway-focused drive that favors speed and directness over winding scenic detours. The longest uninterrupted stretch you will encounter is the 63.8-mile segment along the East-West Freeway, which allows for steady cruising. Because the route is so heavily dominated by major interstates, the road feel remains uniform for the majority of the duration. Expect a predictable experience that is well-suited for travelers who prefer to stay on well-maintained, high-capacity roads throughout their journey.

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.

East-West Freeway is the longest continuous segment at about 63.8 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on East-West Freeway and I 41. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 28.1 miles in near I 41; I 94; US 41.

Route Complexity 9/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 16 significant decision points across 116.4 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 28.1 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 34.4 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 38.6 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 16 key points

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

28.1 mi into trip | ~33m 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...

34.4 mi into trip | ~42m 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...

38.6 mi into trip | ~47m 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

38.8 mi into trip | ~48m 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

103.3 mi into trip | ~1h 58m 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...

Towns Along This Route

Between Pleasant Prairie, WI and Waunakee, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Sun Prairie.

Fond Du Lac

28.1 mi in | ~33m | via I 41; I 94; US 41

Milwaukee

38.6 mi in | ~47m

Eau Claire

103.3 mi in | ~1h 58m | via I 94

Sun Prairie

110.2 mi in | ~2h 6m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
East-West Freeway	63.8 mi	1h 9m
I 41	31.5 mi	36m
I 94	6.9 mi	7m
Airport Freeway	4.6 mi	6m
State Highway 19	2.7 mi	4m
WI 19	2.4 mi	3m
104th Avenue	1 mi	2m
75th Street	0.9 mi	1m

Longest stretch: East-West Freeway — 63.8 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Pleasant Prairie, WI and Waunakee, WI.

Start on 104th Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · 104th Avenue

Turn left onto WI 50

0.9 mi · 1 min · 75th Street

Use the straight / slight left / none lanes.

Take the ramp

0.3 mi · 38 sec

Continue on this road

0.3 mi · 39 sec · this road

Toward I 41 North, I 94 West

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

26 mi · 28 min · I 41; I 94; US 41

Use the none lane.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 94; US 41

0.6 mi · 49 sec · I 41; I 94; US 41

Exit 317 Toward I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac Use the slight right lane.

Continue on I 41; US 41

1.1 mi · 1 min · I 41; US 41

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

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

4.6 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

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 Lac Use the slight right lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 16 sec

Exit 1B-A Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.6 mi · 56 sec

Exit 1B Toward I 94 West: Madison Use the slight left lane.

Keep slight left at fork

0.1 mi · 11 sec

Toward I 94 West: Madison Use the none lane.

Merge onto I 94

10 mi · 11 min · East-West Freeway

Use the none / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

54 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 94

6.9 mi · 7 min · I 94

Exit 240 Toward I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 31 sec

Exit 131 Toward WI 19: Waunakee, Sun Prairie Use the slight right lane.

Keep slight left at fork

452 ft · 13 sec

Toward WI 19 West: Waunakee Use the slight left / slight right lanes.

Continue on WI 19; CTH CV

1.2 mi · 2 min · State Highway 19

Use the straight lane.

Enter roundabout onto WI 19

124 ft · 7 sec · WI 19

Continue on WI 19

2.4 mi · 3 min · WI 19

Enter roundabout onto WI 113

123 ft · 6 sec · State Highway 19

Continue on WI 113

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 19

Continue on WI 19; WI 113

0.7 mi · 1 min · East Main Street

Use the straight lane.

Arrive at destination

WI 19; WI 113

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short 116.4-mile trek, you have plenty of flexibility regarding your departure time. Aim to hit the road outside of peak traffic hours to ensure your 2-hour and 16-minute travel time stays consistent. Because there are no mandatory stops scheduled, you can easily complete the drive in one go, but keeping your fuel tank in mind is always wise given the $18 estimated cost. Given the heavy highway usage, stay alert during the 63.8-mile stretch on the East-West Freeway where traffic volume may be higher. Planning your arrival for mid-morning or early afternoon will likely offer the smoothest experience on these major Wisconsin arteries.

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 58.2 miles from Pleasant Prairie, WI, or about 1h 10m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 63.8 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 58.2 miles or 1h 10m 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 50m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Pleasant Prairie, 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI

This is one driving day of about 116.4 miles and 2h 16m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Pleasant Prairie, 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 East-West Freeway for about 63.8 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.2 mi from Pleasant Prairie, WI · 1h 10m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Waukegan, IL

58 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.

Waukegan, IL

Meal break

The midpoint is around 58.2 miles from Pleasant Prairie, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before East-West Freeway if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 63.8 miles.

Arriving in Waunakee, WI

The final approach into Waunakee, 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 Waunakee, 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

$17.68 one way

$35.36 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 41 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$19.49	$38.98
premium	$4.80	$21.97	$43.95
diesel	$5.64	$25.86	$51.72

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$18

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$43–$68

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 40.7 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 66% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	34.9	$12.22	$5.59
Efficient EV	29.1	$10.19	$4.66
EV Truck/SUV	46.6	$16.30	$7.45

Gas CO2

41 kg

EV CO2

14 kg (66% 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

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Evening in Pleasant Prairie on Sunday

Local time

6:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Waunakee, WI

Evening in Waunakee on Sunday

Local time

6:46 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°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

7 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

2h 16m 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI to Waunakee, WI covers 116.4 miles and takes about 2h 16m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are East-West Freeway, I 41, I 94. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 58.2 miles from Pleasant Prairie, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $17.68 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.

Between Pleasant Prairie, WI and Waunakee, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Milwaukee, Eau Claire and Sun Prairie.

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Return Trip

Waunakee, WI to Pleasant Prairie, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

116.4 mi 2h 16m

Explore more options from Pleasant Prairie, WI or browse trips ending in Waunakee, WI.

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Trip from Pleasant Prairie, WI to Waunakee, WI

Best Time to Leave

Trip Overview

Drive Character

How Hard Is This Drive?

Critical Maneuvers

Towns Along This Route

Main Roads

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Trip Plan

Before You Leave

Where to Stop

Pacing Suggestions

Arriving in Waunakee, WI

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Waunakee, WI

Same local time

7 degrees cooler at arrival

2h 16m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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