How far is Buena Vista, WI from Racine, WI?

The driving distance from Buena Vista, WI to Racine, WI is about 170.1 miles (273.7 km), with a travel time of about 03h 18m by car.

  • The straight-line flight distance is about 147.5 miles (237.3 km).
  • For a round trip, plan for roughly 06h 36m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
  • A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT.
Trip Tools

Reverse, save, or send this route

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay. Copy the route link, send it to another device, or print a clean version before you head out.

Reverse Route
Quick Snapshot
Road
170.08 mi
03h 18m
Flight
147.46 mi
237.31 km direct

This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.

Learn Distance

Choose another destination from Buena Vista.

Flight Distance

Direct air line
147.46 mi
Kilometers
237.31 km
Flight Time
00h 17m

Driving Distance

Road route
170.08 mi
Kilometers
273.72 km
Drive Time
03h 18m

Gas Cost Calculator

Leave and Arrive Planner

Pick a departure time to see your estimated arrival and same-day return window.

Drive time stays fixed at 03h 18m.

Arrival Snapshot
Arrive in Racine
Sun, Apr 19, 1:19 AM CDT
Return by in Buena Vista
Sun, Apr 19, 4:38 AM CDT
Useful when you're deciding between a quick errand, a day trip, or a longer stop.
Leave Buena Vista
2026-04-18T22:01
Arrive Racine
Sun, Apr 19, 1:19 AM CDT
Route Timing
03h 18m
One way by road
Best Departure Window
6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT
Leave early for more breathing room
Arrive between
9:18 AM to 11:18 AM CDT

An early departure helps you fit a real stop into the day without turning the return into a late-night drive.

Leave by
10:24 AM CDT
Keeps a same-day return open with about 04h 00m at the destination.
Back in Buena Vista
9:00 PM CDT
Early departure recommended

You are leaving earlier than the recommended window, which gives you extra margin for breaks and traffic.

Halfway Point

A useful midpoint for breaks, coffee, or meeting in the middle.

Mid-route stop
Vilas
WI

Human settlement in Langlade County, Wisconsin, United States of America

From Buena Vista
96.1 mi
01h 39m
To Racine
74 mi
01h 39m

Route Weather Snapshot

Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.

Origin
31°F
Tonight

Mostly Clear then Widespread Frost

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 9:00 PM CDT
Wind
8 mph W
Destination
60°F
Saturday

Showers And Thunderstorms

Starts
Sat, Apr 18 6:00 AM CDT
Wind
10 to 15 mph W

Driving Route Map

The map below follows the saved road route between Buena Vista and Racine.

Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions

Step-by-step road directions between Buena Vista and Racine.

  1. 1

    Start on the route

    1.9 mi · 3 min

  2. 2

    Turn left onto County Road O

    6.9 mi · 12 min · County Road O

  3. 3

    Keep slight left to continue on County Road O

    3.5 mi · 6 min · County Road O

  4. 4

    Turn left onto US Highway 151

    32 mi · 37 min · US Highway 151

  5. 5

    Continue on US Highway 18 and 151

    37.4 mi · 44 min · US Highway 18 and 151

  6. 6

    Take the exit slight right toward US 12 East, US 14 East, US 18 East, US 151 North

    2419 ft · 1 min

  7. 7

    Merge slight left onto West Beltline Highway

    8.8 mi · 12 min · West Beltline Highway

  8. 8

    Take the exit slight left toward I 39 North, I 90 West: Milwaukee, Wisconsin Dells

    1.3 km · 1 min

  9. 9

    Merge slight left

    3.1 mi · 3 min

  10. 10

    Take the exit slight right toward I 94 East: Milwaukee

    1805 ft · 22 sec

  11. 11

    Merge slight left

    969 ft · 12 sec

  12. 12

    Merge slight left

    63.3 mi · 1 hr 9 min

  13. 13

    Take the exit slight right toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac

    3167 ft · 1 min

  14. 14

    Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

    1991 ft · 38 sec

  15. 15

    Continue on I 41 South, I 894 East, US 41 South, US 45 South: Chicago

    1477 ft · 30 sec

  16. 16

    Keep slight left to continue on I 41, I 894, US 45 South: Chicago

    1177 ft · 29 sec

  17. 17

    Merge slight left onto Zoo Freeway

    4 mi · 5 min · Zoo Freeway

  18. 18

    Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway

    4.3 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway

  19. 19

    Keep slight left to continue on I 41 South, I 94 South: Chicago

    1.3 mi · 2 min

  20. 20

    Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway

    11.9 mi · 14 min · North-South Freeway

  21. 21

    Take the exit slight right toward CTH K: Racine, Caledonia

    1682 ft · 31 sec

  22. 22

    Turn left onto Northwestern Avenue

    5.1 mi · 10 min · Northwestern Avenue

  23. 23

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 1 toward Northwestern Avenue

    8 m · 1 sec · Northwestern Avenue

  24. 24

    Exit the roundabout onto Northwestern Avenue

    3.4 mi · 6 min · Northwestern Avenue

  25. 25

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward Northwestern Avenue

    28 m · 2 sec · Northwestern Avenue

  26. 26

    Exit the roundabout onto Northwestern Avenue

    2024 ft · 35 sec · Northwestern Avenue

  27. 27

    Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward State Street

    22 m · 4 sec · State Street

  28. 28

    Exit the roundabout onto State Street

    1.6 km · 2 min · State Street

  29. 29

    Turn right onto Main Street

    1759 ft · 40 sec · Main Street

  30. 30

    Turn right onto 6th Street

    94 m · 18 sec · 6th Street

  31. 31

    Turn left onto Wisconsin Avenue

    87 m · 14 sec · Wisconsin Avenue

  32. 32

    Turn left onto 7th Street

    75 m · 8 sec · 7th Street

  33. 33

    Arrive at your destination

    0 m · 1 sec · 7th Street

Car Route Details

A richer read on the saved driving route between Buena Vista and Racine.

OSRM road route
Drive Character

Highway-focused drive

Most of the mileage stays on named highways, so the important moments are ramps, exits, merges, and the final local approach.

Directions
33 steps
13 turns on the saved route
Ramps & Exits
18
7 merges, 11 ramps or exits
Navigation Density
19.4 / 100 mi
Decision points by distance
Main Roads
I 94 East
63.8 mi · 38%
US Highway 18 and 151
37.4 mi · 22%
US Highway 151
32 mi · 19%
North-South Freeway
11.9 mi · 7%
County Road O
10.4 mi · 6%
Northwestern Avenue
9 mi · 5%
Longest Stretch

I 94 East

Merge slight left

63.3 mi · 01h 09m

Route Summary

A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.

Trip Read

A longer out-and-back drive

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

Drive Time
03h 18m
Long day trip
Same-Day Return
06h 36m
Round-trip wheel time
Road vs Air
+22.6 mi
147.5 mi direct line
Halfway Stop
Vilas
01h 39m from Buena Vista
Leave By
10:24 AM CDT
Early departure recommended
Weather Watch

Mostly Clear then Widespread Frost leaving Buena Vista and Showers And Thunderstorms near Racine.

Trip Questions

Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.

How long does it take to drive from Buena Vista to Racine?

The road trip is about 170.1 miles (273.7 km) and usually takes 03h 18m in normal driving conditions.

Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?

This is still possible in one day, but it becomes a long driving day. Leaving early and planning your stop window matters more here.

What is the halfway point on this route?

Vilas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 96.1 miles from Buena Vista and 74 miles from Racine.

How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?

The direct path is about 147.5 miles (237.3 km), while the road route adds roughly 22.6 extra miles because roads do not follow the straight air line.

When is the best time to leave for this route?

A good departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 8:00 AM CDT. If you want a more comfortable same-day return, try to leave by 10:24 AM CDT.

How much will gas cost for this route?

Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $22.63 one way or $45.25 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 53.3 kg one way.

What should you check before leaving?

Before you leave, expect Mostly Clear then Widespread Frost around Buena Vista and Showers And Thunderstorms near Racine.

Stop Ideas Near Vilas

Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.

Mid-route Guidance
Local place coverage is thin around Vilas, so nearby transit and meeting points are shown instead.
Reviewed stop coverage is still thin around this midpoint, so practical transit waypoints are shown on the right.

Transit and Meeting Points

Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Vilas.

BUS

Madison (South), Wisconsin

8 mi away
Hwy 51 & East Broadway Ave.
BUS

Madison, Wisconsin

13 mi away
800 Langdon St.
RAIL

Columbus

33 mi away
359 North Ludington Street
BUS

Janesville, Wisconsin

45 mi away
3120 North Pontiac Drive

Flight Path Map

This map shows the direct air route between Buena Vista and Racine. Straight-line distance: 147.46 mi (237.31 km).

Photo coming soon

#1 Buena Vista

Unincorporated community in the Town of Delafield, Waukesha County, Wisconsin

Population1,820
Coordinates42.7133300, -90.6879000
Altitude270
CountryUnited States
Racine

#2 Racine

The second most populous city in Racine County, Wisconsin.

Population76,237
Coordinates42.7261300, -87.7828500
Altitude188
CountryUnited States
Start: US 61 (-90.687858, 42.713338)
End: 7th Street (-87.782849, 42.725989)

Estimated Travel Time

Distance: 274 km by road

SpeedTime
30 mph (48.3 km/h)05h 40m
40 mph (64.37 km/h)04h 15m
50 mph (80.47 km/h)03h 24m
60 mph (96.56 km/h)02h 50m
70 mph (112.65 km/h)02h 25m
80 mph (129 km/h)02h 07m

Fuel, Round Trip and CO2

Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.

One-way fuel
6 gal
22.72 L · about $22.63
Round trip
$45.25
12 gal · 45.44 L
Estimated CO2
53.3 kg one way
Round trip: 106.6 kg / 235 lb CO2, using regular gasoline.
Fuel$/galOne wayRound trip
Regular gas $3.77 $22.63 $45.25
Mid-grade $4.25 $25.52 $51.04
Premium $4.65 $27.92 $55.85
Diesel $5.30 $31.82 $63.65

Assumes 8.3 L/100 km (about 28.3 MPG). CO2 is an estimate and varies by vehicle, fuel blend, traffic, and terrain.

Prices in Wisconsin · Apr 19, 2026

There is no time difference between Buena Vista and Racine. The current time is 22:01:57.

Distance to Other Cities

Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.

How did we calculate? Place names are translated into coordinates. The Haversine formula calculates straight-line distance; driving distance uses road network data.