Trip from Waunakee, WI to Pleasant Prairie, 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

Best Time to Leave

Save up to 29 min

4 AM

2h 7m ★

6 AM

2h 17m

8 AM

2h 36m

10 AM

2h 23m

12 PM

2h 22m

3 PM

2h 24m

5 PM

2h 35m

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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Waunakee, WI

Tom Fisk

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Tom Fisk

Trip Overview

If you are planning a trip from Waunakee to Pleasant Prairie, expect a straightforward journey covering 116.4 miles. You can easily complete this drive in about 2 hours and 16 minutes, making it an ideal day trip that requires no overnight stops. Budget roughly $18 for fuel to cover the distance, which takes you across the Wisconsin landscape. Since both towns are located within the Midwest, the drive maintains a consistent regional feel. This route is designed for efficiency rather than exploration, so it works best when you need to get from point A to point B quickly.

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 Waunakee, WI

A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 6m into the drive .

Drive Character

This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of your time spent cruising on major thoroughfares. You will primarily navigate via I-94, the North-South Freeway, and I-39 as you head toward your destination. Be prepared for a consistent interstate experience, highlighted by a longest uninterrupted stretch of 64.2 miles on I-94. Because the route is so heavily reliant on high-speed infrastructure, it lacks the technical challenges of local backroads. Expect a steady, predictable pace that allows you to cover the mileage without frequent detours or major transitions.

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

There are about 23 navigation steps in the underlying route data, so the final approach matters more than the middle miles.

I 94 is the longest continuous segment at about 64.2 miles.

How Hard Is This Drive?

This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and North-South Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.4 miles in near I 94.

Route Complexity 10/10

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

This is a demanding drive. With 18 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 12.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 76.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 77.1 miles: 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.

12.4 mi into trip | ~16m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee

76.5 mi into trip | ~1h 26m 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

77.1 mi into trip | ~1h 27m 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...

86.3 mi into trip | ~1h 40m 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 none / straight / slight right lanes. Exit 10B Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

113.9 mi into trip | ~2h 11m in

Take the exit toward WI 50: Kenosha, Lake Geneva

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 344 Toward WI 50: Kenosha, Lake Geneva

Towns Along This Route

On the drive from Waunakee, WI to Pleasant Prairie, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.

Fond Du Lac

76.5 mi in | ~1h 26m

Main Roads

Road	Distance	Duration
I 94	64.2 mi	1h 9m
North-South Freeway	26.3 mi	29m
I 39	6.3 mi	6m
Airport Freeway	4.3 mi	5m
Zoo Freeway	4 mi	5m
State Highway 19	3.9 mi	5m
I 41	1.3 mi	1m
104th Avenue	1 mi	2m

Longest stretch: I 94 — 64.2 mi, about 1h 9m

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

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

Start on WI 19; WI 113

0.7 mi · 1 min · West Main Street

Continue on WI 19; WI 113

1.5 mi · 2 min · State Highway 19

Enter roundabout onto WI 19

136 ft · 7 sec · State Highway 19

Continue on WI 19

2.4 mi · 3 min · State Highway 19

Enter roundabout onto WI 19

143 ft · 8 sec · WI 19

Continue on WI 19

0.9 mi · 1 min · WI 19

Use the straight lane.

Take the ramp

0.5 mi · 1 min

Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madison Use the right lane.

Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94

6.3 mi · 6 min · I 39; I 90; I 94

Use the none lane.

Keep slight left at fork onto I 94

64 mi · 1 hr 9 min · I 94

Exit 138A Toward I 94: Milwaukee Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

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.

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.

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

Keep slight left at fork

0.2 mi · 28 sec

Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45

4.0 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway

Use the none lane.

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

4.3 mi · 5 min · Airport Freeway

Use the none lane.

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 none / straight / slight right lanes.

Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41

26 mi · 29 min · North-South Freeway

Use the none / straight / slight right lanes.

Take the exit

0.3 mi · 25 sec

Exit 344 Toward WI 50: Kenosha, Lake Geneva Use the slight right lane.

Continue on this road

0.2 mi · 31 sec · this road

Toward I 41 South, I 94 East Use the straight / left lanes.

Keep slight left at fork

187 ft · 6 sec

Toward WI 50 East, I 94 East: Kenosha

Turn left onto WI 50

1.0 mi · 1 min · 75th Street

Use the left / straight lanes.

Turn right onto 104th Avenue

1.0 mi · 2 min · 104th Avenue

Arrive at destination

104th Avenue

Trip Plan

Since this is a relatively short trip of just over two hours, you have plenty of flexibility in your departure time. You will not need to plan for formal stops, as the duration is manageable for most drivers without a break. Keep a close eye on traffic patterns when merging onto the North-South Freeway, as these stretches can see increased density. Given that the entire trip is highway-based, ensure your vehicle is ready for sustained speeds before you leave Waunakee. If you want to avoid the heaviest congestion, try to time your departure to miss peak commuting hours on the major interstates.

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 Waunakee, WI, or about 1h 6m into the drive.

The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 64.2 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 32m in

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

Halfway reset

Around 58.2 miles or 1h 6m 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 51m

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

Before You Leave

Open the route before leaving Waunakee, 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 Waunakee, WI

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

Your first comfortable stop window is around 80 miles from Waunakee, 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 I 94 for about 64.2 miles.

Where to Stop

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

Halfway Point

Midpoint

About 58.2 mi from Waunakee, WI · 1h 6m 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

Waukegan, 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 Waunakee, WI, which is a good place for a longer meal and fuel stop.

Before the longest stretch

Fuel check

Top up before I 94 if your tank is already low. That segment runs about 64.2 miles.

Arriving in Pleasant Prairie, WI

The final approach into Pleasant Prairie, 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 Pleasant Prairie, 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

Waunakee, WI

Afternoon in Waunakee on Sunday

Local time

3:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

40°F

Unavailable

Live forecast

Destination

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Afternoon in Pleasant Prairie on Sunday

Local time

3:06 PM

CDT

Current temp

47°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 warmer 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 Waunakee, WI to Pleasant Prairie, 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 I 94, North-South Freeway, I 39. 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 Waunakee, 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.

On the drive from Waunakee, WI to Pleasant Prairie, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Fond Du Lac along the way.

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Return Trip

Pleasant Prairie, WI to Waunakee, WI

Plan the drive back the other way.

116.4 mi 2h 16m

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Trip from Waunakee, WI to Pleasant Prairie, 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 Pleasant Prairie, WI

Fuel & Cost

Travel Intel

Waunakee, WI

Pleasant Prairie, WI

Same local time

7 degrees warmer at arrival

2h 16m on the road

Frequently Asked Questions

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