Trip from Racine, WI to Mercer, WI

Drive Time

6h 24m

Distance

310.5 mi

500 km

Drive Score

8/10

Great drive

Same Day?

Yes, doable

Fuel Cost

$47

one way

EV Charging

station data

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 37 min

4 AM

6h 12m ★

6 AM

6h 25m

8 AM

6h 49m

10 AM

6h 33m

12 PM

6h 31m

3 PM

6h 34m

5 PM

6h 48m

8 PM

6h 17m

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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Racine, WI

Yan Krukau

Mercer, WI

Wolrider YURTSEVEN

Trip Overview

The drive from Racine, WI to Mercer, WI covers 310.5 miles and takes about 6h 24m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.

The route leans on I 41, US 51, US Highway 10 for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 87.9 miles on I 41. At current regular gas prices, budget about $47.16 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

155.3 miles from Racine, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 3h 7m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a 6h 24m highway drive covering 310.5 miles, with most of the trip on I 41 and US 51. The longest continuous stretch is about 87.9 miles on I 41.

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

There are about 25 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 41 is the longest continuous segment at about 87.9 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and US 51. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 20 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 18 significant decision points across 310.5 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 20 miles (I 41; I 94; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 26.3 miles (I 41; I 894; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 50.8 miles (I 41; US 41): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.

Critical Maneuvers

5 of 18 key points

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

20 mi into trip | ~32m 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...

26.3 mi into trip | ~40m 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...

50.8 mi into trip | ~1h 11m in | I 41; US 41

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41 toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

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

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton

112.4 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Take the exit toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

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

Use the straight / slight right lanes. Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard

112.6 mi into trip | ~2h 17m in

Keep slight left at fork toward US 45 North: New London

Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here

Use the slight left lane. Toward US 45 North: New London

Towns Along This Route

Between Racine, WI and Mercer, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac and Appleton.

Fond Du Lac

20 mi in | ~32m | via I 41; I 94; US 41

Appleton

50.8 mi in | ~1h 11m | via I 41; US 41

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 41	87.9 mi	1h 39m
US 51	70.9 mi	1h 28m
US Highway 10	46.6 mi	54m
Chippewa Street	33.2 mi	50m
I 39	23.3 mi	25m
US 45	15.2 mi	17m
Douglas Avenue	8.3 mi	13m
US 10	6.6 mi	7m

Longest stretch: I 41 — 87.9 mi, about 1h 39m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Racine, WI and Mercer, WI.

Start on WI 20; WI 32

69 ft · 10 sec · 7th Street

Turn left onto WI 32

0.7 mi · 1 min · Main Street

Turn left onto WI 32

0.2 mi · 19 sec · Hamilton Street

Turn right onto WI 32

8.3 mi · 13 min · Douglas Avenue

Use the straight lane.

Continue on WI 32

1.8 mi · 3 min · South Chicago Road

Turn straight

0.1 mi · 22 sec

Turn left onto WI 100

4.0 mi · 6 min · West Ryan Road

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 41 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

4.5 mi · 5 min · North-South Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

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 straight / slight right lanes.

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

4.6 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight right at fork onto I 41; I 894; US 41

25 mi · 30 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.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 41; US 41

62 mi · 1 hr 6 min · I 41; US 41

Toward US 41 North: Fond du Lac, Appleton Use the slight left lane.

Take the exit

0.2 mi · 22 sec

Toward US 45: New London, Algoma Boulevard Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

0.8 mi · 58 sec

Toward US 45 North: New London Use the slight left lane.

Merge onto US 45

15 mi · 17 min · US 45

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 10

47 mi · 54 min · US Highway 10

Toward US 10 West: Stevens Point

Continue on US 10

1.3 mi · 2 min · Main Street

Take the exit onto US 10

6.6 mi · 7 min · US 10

Toward I 39 North, US 51 North, US 10 West

Continue on I 39; US 51

23 mi · 25 min · I 39; US 51

Merge onto US 51; WI 29

48 mi · 55 min · US 51; WI 29

Use the straight / slight right lanes.

Keep slight left at fork onto US 51

23 mi · 32 min · US 51

Turn slight right onto US 51

33 mi · 50 min · Chippewa Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Arrive at destination

US 51

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 155.3 miles from Racine, WI, or about 3h 7m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 87.9 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 42m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 155.3 miles or 3h 7m in

This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.

Final approach

Final hour starts around 5h 2m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Racine, 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 Racine, WI

This is one driving day of about 310.5 miles and 6h 24m.

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Racine, 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 41 for about 87.9 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 155.3 mi from Racine, WI · 3h 7m into the drive

Mid-route town

Meal stop

Stockton, IL

155 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

Waukegan, 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 155.3 miles from Racine, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 41 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 87.9 miles.

Arriving in Mercer, WI

The final approach into Mercer, 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 Mercer, 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

$47.16 one way

$94.32 round trip

$3.86/gal 25.4 MPG avg 109 kg CO₂

Fuel Type	$/gal	One Way	Round Trip
midgrade	$4.25	$51.99	$103.98
premium	$4.80	$58.62	$117.23
diesel	$5.64	$68.98	$137.96

No toll roads detected on this route.

Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)

Fuel

$47

Meals

$25–$50

Total

$72–$97

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

Estimated CO2 emission: 108.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-06.

Driving Electric?

About $33 in charging · 1 stop · 67% less CO₂

Vehicle Type	kWh	Stops	DC Fast	Home Charge
Average EV	93.1	1	$32.60	$14.90
Efficient EV	77.6	0	$27.17	$12.42
EV Truck/SUV	124.2	1	$43.47	$19.87

Gas CO2

109 kg

EV CO2

36 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

Racine, WI

Afternoon in Racine on Monday

Local time

12:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

41°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Mercer, WI

Afternoon in Mercer on Monday

Local time

12:24 PM

CDT

Current temp

48°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Along the Route

73°F

Stockton, IL

155 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

7 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 24m 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

The drive from Racine, WI to Mercer, WI covers 310.5 miles and takes about 6h 24m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.

The main roads are I 41, US 51, US Highway 10. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.

This is a comfortable same-day trip.

The midpoint is about 155.3 miles from Racine, WI. Look for rest areas, gas stations, or food options near the halfway mark.

At current regular gas prices, expect to spend about $47.16 one way. This estimate uses 25.4 MPG — your actual cost will vary with your vehicle's fuel efficiency and current gas prices.

Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour. This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.

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 Racine, WI and Mercer, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac and Appleton.

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Return Trip

Mercer, WI to Racine, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

313.1 mi 5h 9m

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Trip from Racine, WI to Mercer, 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 Mercer, WI

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Racine, WI

Mercer, WI

Same local time

7 degrees warmer at arrival

6h 24m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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