Origin
Waunakee, WI
Afternoon in Waunakee on Thursday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Waunakee, WI to Racine, WI
Last recalculated Apr 16, 2026
Drive Time
2h 15m
Distance
110.3 mi
178 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$17
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
2h 6m
★
6 AM
2h 16m
8 AM
2h 35m
10 AM
2h 22m
12 PM
2h 20m
3 PM
2h 23m
5 PM
2h 34m
8 PM
2h 10m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Waunakee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Racine, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
The drive from Waunakee, WI to Racine, WI covers 110.3 miles and takes about 2h 15m behind the wheel. This route is realistic as a one-day drive if you keep your stops efficient.
The route leans on I 94, North-South Freeway, Northwestern Avenue for much of the mileage, and the overall profile is highway-focused drive. The longest uninterrupted segment is about 64.2 miles on I 94. At current regular gas prices, budget about $17.24 one way before food or hotel costs.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Midpoint
55.2 miles from Waunakee, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day , about 1h 3m into the drive .
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 15m. Total distance: 110.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 15m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (88%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Drive Character
This is a 2h 15m highway drive covering 110.3 miles, with most of the trip on I 94 and North-South Freeway. The longest continuous stretch is about 64.2 miles on I 94.
Most of the miles stay on highways, which makes pacing and fuel planning easier than turn-by-turn city driving.
There are about 30 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.
Driving Effort
10/10
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 25 significant decision points across 110.3 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 25 key pointsThese are the spots where you need to pay the most attention. Preview them before you drive.
8
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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
8
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
8
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...
9
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 straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 10B
Toward I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago
8
99.5 mi into trip
|
~1h 56m in
Take the exit toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia
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.
Exit 329
Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Waunakee, WI and Racine, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Cth K: Racine and Caledonia.
Fond Du Lac
76.5 mi in
|
~1h 26m
Cth K: Racine
99.5 mi in
|
~1h 56m
Caledonia
99.5 mi in
|
~1h 56m
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 94 | 64.2 mi | 1h 9m |
| North-South Freeway | 11.9 mi | 13m |
| Northwestern Avenue | 9 mi | 15m |
| 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 |
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 64.2 mi, about 1h 9m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Waunakee, WI and Racine, WI.
1
Start on WI 19; WI 113
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
West Main Street
2
Continue on WI 19; WI 113
1.5 mi
·
2 min
·
State Highway 19
3
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
136 ft
·
7 sec
·
State Highway 19
4
Continue on WI 19
2.4 mi
·
3 min
·
State Highway 19
5
Enter roundabout onto WI 19
143 ft
·
8 sec
·
WI 19
6
Continue on WI 19
0.9 mi
·
1 min
·
WI 19
Use the straight lane.
7
Take the ramp
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Toward I 39 South, I 90 East, I 94 East: Madison
Use the right lane.
8
Merge onto I 39; I 90; I 94
6.3 mi
·
6 min
·
I 39; I 90; I 94
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
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.
11
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.
12
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
13
Keep slight left at fork
0.2 mi
·
28 sec
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago
14
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
4.0 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
15
Merge onto I 41; I 43; I 894; US 41
4.3 mi
·
5 min
·
Airport Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
16
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.
17
Merge onto I 41; I 94; US 41
12 mi
·
13 min
·
North-South Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 329
Toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
19
Turn left onto CTH K
5.1 mi
·
9 min
·
Northwestern Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
27 ft
·
0 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
21
Continue on WI 38
3.4 mi
·
5 min
·
Northwestern Avenue
Use the straight lane.
22
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
91 ft
·
1 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
23
Continue on WI 38
0.4 mi
·
34 sec
·
Northwestern Avenue
24
Enter roundabout onto WI 38
72 ft
·
4 sec
·
State Street
25
Continue on WI 38
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
State Street
Use the straight lane.
26
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
40 sec
·
Main Street
27
Turn right onto WI 20; WI 32
309 ft
·
17 sec
·
6th Street
28
Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue
284 ft
·
14 sec
·
Wisconsin Avenue
29
Turn left onto WI 20; WI 32
245 ft
·
8 sec
·
7th Street
30
Arrive at destination
WI 20; WI 32
Trip Plan
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 55.2 miles from Waunakee, WI, or about 1h 3m 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 24 miles or 29m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 55.2 miles or 1h 3m 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 45m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Racine, 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 110.3 miles and 2h 15m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 24 miles from Waunakee, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
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 55.2 mi from Waunakee, WI · 1h 3m into the drive
Mid-route town
Meal stop
55 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 24 miles helps settle the day before fatigue starts building.
Meal break
The midpoint is around 55.2 miles from Waunakee, 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 64.2 miles.
Arriving in Racine, WI
The final approach into Racine, 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 Racine, 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
$17.24 one way
$34.49 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
39 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $18.93 | $37.87 |
| premium | $4.89 | $21.23 | $42.45 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $24.35 | $48.71 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$17
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$42–$67
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 38.6 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $12 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 33.1 | 0 | $11.58 | $5.29 |
| Efficient EV | 27.6 | 0 | $9.65 | $4.41 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 44.1 | 0 | $15.44 | $7.06 |
Gas CO2
39 kg
EV CO2
13 kg (67% 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.
Destination
Racine, WI
Afternoon in Racine on Thursday
Local time
4:52 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°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
1 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 15m 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 Racine, WI covers 110.3 miles and takes about 2h 15m without stops. Add 15-30 minutes for a fuel or rest stop on longer drives.
The main roads are I 94, North-South Freeway, Northwestern Avenue. Most of the drive stays on highways, so watch for ramps and exits.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
The midpoint is about 55.2 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 $17.24 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.
This is a demanding drive. With 25 significant decision points across 110.3 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.
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.
Between Waunakee, WI and Racine, WI, road signs point toward Fond Du Lac, Cth K: Racine and Caledonia.
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