How far is Racine, WI from Balsam Lake, WI?
The driving distance from Racine, WI to Balsam Lake, WI is about 353.1 miles (568.3 km), with a travel time of about 06h 53m by car.
- The straight-line flight distance is about 298.6 miles (480.6 km).
- For a round trip, plan for roughly 13h 47m of driving time before adding stops, traffic, or weather delays.
- A comfortable departure window is usually 6:00 AM to 7:30 AM CDT.
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.
This drive is better planned with a longer stop or an overnight stay.
Flight Distance
Driving Distance
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 06h 53m.
Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
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.
Village in Juneau County, Wisconsin
Route Weather Snapshot
Check the forecast at both ends before you head out.
Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely
Partly Sunny
Driving Route Map
The map below follows the saved road route between Racine and Balsam Lake.
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Racine and Balsam Lake.
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1
Start on 7th Street
21 m · 11 sec · 7th Street
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2
Turn left onto Main Street
1.1 km · 1 min · Main Street
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3
Turn left onto Hamilton Street
1000 ft · 20 sec · Hamilton Street
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4
Turn right onto Douglas Avenue
8.3 mi · 14 min · Douglas Avenue
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5
Continue on South Chicago Road
1.8 mi · 3 min · South Chicago Road
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6
Turn straight
538 ft · 23 sec
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7
Turn left onto West Ryan Road
4 mi · 6 min · West Ryan Road
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8
Take the ramp slight right toward I 41 North, I 94 West: Milwaukee
2802 ft · 1 min
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9
Merge slight left onto North-South Freeway
4.5 mi · 5 min · North-South Freeway
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10
Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 43 South, I 894 Bypass: Madison, Fond du Lac
3138 ft · 49 sec
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11
Continue straight
1.1 mi · 2 min
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12
Merge slight right onto Airport Freeway
4.6 mi · 6 min · Airport Freeway
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13
Keep slight right to continue on I 41 North, I 894 North, US 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
4.2 mi · 6 min
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14
Take the exit slight right toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
937 ft · 16 sec
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15
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison
3267 ft · 56 sec
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16
Keep slight left to continue on I 94 West: Madison
665 ft · 11 sec
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17
Merge slight left onto East-West Freeway
10.2 mi · 12 min · East-West Freeway
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18
Keep slight left to continue on East-West Freeway
53.5 mi · 57 min · East-West Freeway
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19
Keep slight right to continue on I 39 North, I 90 West, I 94 West: Wisconsin Dells, Eau Claire
29.1 mi · 31 min
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20
Keep slight left
63.5 mi · 1 hr 8 min
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21
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
76.1 mi · 1 hr 22 min
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22
Take the exit slight right toward US 53: Eau Claire, Superior
1027 ft · 19 sec
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23
Keep slight right to continue on US 53 North: Eau Claire, Superior
2757 ft · 36 sec
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24
Merge slight left
50 mi · 55 min
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25
Take the exit slight right toward US 8: Barron, Cameron
1931 ft · 47 sec
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26
Keep slight left
79 m · 14 sec
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27
Turn left
3.7 mi · 5 min
-
28
Continue on East Division Avenue
2 mi · 5 min · East Division Avenue
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29
Continue on 13 1/2 Avenue
3 mi · 4 min · 13 1/2 Avenue
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30
Continue on 13 1/2 - 14th Avenue
1.4 mi · 2 min · 13 1/2 - 14th Avenue
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31
Continue on 14th Avenue
9 mi · 13 min · 14th Avenue
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32
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward 14th Avenue
40 m · 7 sec · 14th Avenue
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33
Exit the roundabout onto 14th Avenue
2825 ft · 1 min · 14th Avenue
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34
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward the route
31 m · 6 sec
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35
Exit the roundabout
10 mi · 14 min
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36
Enter the roundabout and take exit 2 toward East 130th Avenue
38 m · 7 sec · East 130th Avenue
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37
Exit the roundabout onto East 130th Avenue
4.4 mi · 6 min · East 130th Avenue
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38
Turn right onto 140th Street
3.5 mi · 6 min · 140th Street
-
39
Continue on West Main Street
2548 ft · 56 sec · West Main Street
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40
Turn left onto Courthouse Avenue
124 m · 18 sec · Courthouse Avenue
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41
Arrive at your destination
0 m · 1 sec · Courthouse Avenue
Car Route Details
A richer read on the saved driving route between Racine and Balsam Lake.
Long-distance drive
This route is long enough that fuel, rest stops, weather, and timing matter more than any single maneuver.
I 94 West
Keep slight right to continue on I 94 West: Eau Claire, Saint Paul
76.1 mi · 01h 22m
Route Summary
A quick read on whether this route feels easy, ambitious, or worth planning around.
Better with a longer stop
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely leaving Racine and Partly Sunny near Balsam Lake.
Trip Questions
Direct answers travelers usually want before committing to the drive.
How long does it take to drive from Racine to Balsam Lake?
The road trip is about 353.1 miles (568.3 km) and usually takes 06h 53m in normal driving conditions.
Is this a same-day trip or an overnight route?
This route is long enough that most travelers will be better off planning an overnight stay or a more deliberate stop window.
What is the halfway point on this route?
Camp Douglas is a useful midpoint, sitting about 176.3 miles from Racine and 176.8 miles from Balsam Lake.
How much longer is the road route than the straight-line distance?
The direct path is about 298.6 miles (480.6 km), while the road route adds roughly 54.5 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 7:30 AM CDT. Starting early still helps, but most travelers will want a longer stop or an overnight stay on a route this long.
How much will gas cost for this route?
Using about 28.3 MPG, regular gas is estimated at $46.99 one way or $93.97 round trip. Estimated CO2 is about 110.7 kg one way.
What should you check before leaving?
Before you leave, expect Patchy Fog then Showers And Thunderstorms Likely around Racine and Partly Sunny near Balsam Lake.
Stop Ideas Near Camp Douglas
Useful break, food, and waypoint ideas within about 15 miles of the route midpoint.
Transit and Meeting Points
Useful pickup, handoff, or rendezvous points close to Camp Douglas.
Tomah
Wisconsin Dells
Wisconsin Rapids, WI
Westfield, WI
Flight Path Map
This map shows the direct air route between Racine and Balsam Lake. Straight-line distance: 298.62 mi (480.59 km).
#1 Racine
The second most populous city in Racine County, Wisconsin.
| Population | 76,237 |
| Coordinates | 42.7261300, -87.7828500 |
| Altitude | 188 |
| Country | United States |
#2 Balsam Lake
Civil town in Polk County, Wisconsin
| Population | 1,419 |
| Coordinates | 45.4521800, -92.4546400 |
| Altitude | 354 |
| Country | United States |
End: Balsam Lake (-92.45464, 45.45218)
Estimated Travel Time
Distance: 568 km by road
| Speed | Time |
|---|---|
| 30 mph (48.3 km/h) | 11h 45m |
| 40 mph (64.37 km/h) | 08h 49m |
| 50 mph (80.47 km/h) | 07h 03m |
| 60 mph (96.56 km/h) | 05h 53m |
| 70 mph (112.65 km/h) | 05h 02m |
| 80 mph (129 km/h) | 04h 24m |
Fuel, Round Trip and CO2
Estimated fuel cost and emissions for this route.
| Fuel | $/gal | One way | Round trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Regular gas | $3.77 | $46.99 | $93.97 |
| Mid-grade | $4.25 | $52.99 | $105.98 |
| Premium | $4.65 | $57.99 | $115.98 |
| Diesel | $5.30 | $66.09 | $132.18 |
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 15, 2026
Distance to Other Cities
Planning a road trip? See the full trip guide on Trip.ovh — stops, fuel costs, weather, and departure timing.