Next 7 departures
- SatOct 3
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 46–59°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Cloudy52°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Cloudy49°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Cloudy46°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Cloudy47°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Mauston10 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Madison11 AM CDT Mostly sunny58°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny59°F - SunOct 4
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny50°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Partly sunny48°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Partly sunny49°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Partly sunny51°F Mauston10 AM CDT Partly sunny56°F Madison11 AM CDT Partly sunny62°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Partly sunny63°F - MonOct 5
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 40–58°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Sunny45°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Sunny43°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Sunny40°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Sunny45°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Sunny44°F Mauston10 AM CDT Sunny51°F Madison11 AM CDT Sunny58°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Sunny58°F - TueOct 6
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–59°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Mostly sunny47°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Sunny50°F Mauston10 AM CDT Sunny55°F Madison11 AM CDT Sunny59°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Sunny59°F - WedOct 7
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 50–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny54°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny52°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Mostly sunny50°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Partly sunny54°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny56°F Mauston10 AM CDT Partly sunny60°F Madison11 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny63°F - ThuOct 8
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 48–64°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny51°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Mostly sunny48°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Partly sunny53°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F Mauston10 AM CDT Partly sunny59°F Madison11 AM CDT Mostly sunny64°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny63°F - FriOct 9
ClearNo significant weather expected. Temperatures 47–63°F along the way.
Along the way
Checkpoint · arrival Weather · temperature Minneapolis7 AM CDT Mostly sunny52°F Minnesota–Wisconsin line7:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny50°F I-94 near Wilson8 AM CDT Mostly sunny47°F Eau Claire8:30 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F Black River Falls9:15 AM CDT Mostly sunny53°F Mauston10 AM CDT Mostly sunny59°F Madison11 AM CDT Mostly sunny63°F Milwaukee12:15 PM CDT Mostly sunny62°F
The worst conditions expected at any checkpoint, timed to when you would reach it driving without stops. Levels use Road Travel’s driving-risk scale.
The route, stop by stop
Checkpoints in order, with driving time from Minneapolis (no stops) and elevation. The forecast above is timed to these.
- Minneapolis, MNStart 840 ftelevation
- Minnesota–Wisconsin lineState line · Mile 26 · 29 min 707 ftelevation
- I-94 near Wilson, WIMile 55 · 55 min 1,264 ftelevation
- Eau Claire, WIMile 91 · 1 h 28 min 789 ftelevation
- Black River Falls, WIMile 141 · 2 h 13 min 764 ftelevation
- Mauston, WIMile 196 · 3 h 3 min 883 ftelevation
- Madison, WIMile 265 · 4 h 5 min 924 ftelevation
- Milwaukee, WIMile 337 · 5 h 14 min 593 ftelevation
Typical weather by month
Average daily highs and lows, and days with an inch or more of snow, at Minneapolis, Madison and Milwaukee.
| Month | Minneapolis Minneapolis–St. Paul Airport station · 872 ft | Madison Madison Dane station · 866 ft | Milwaukee Milwaukee Mitchell station · 670 ft | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | High / low °F | Snow days | |
| Jan | 24° / 9° | 3.3 | 27° / 12° | 3.9 | 31° / 17° | 4.5 |
| Feb | 29° / 13° | 2.8 | 31° / 15° | 3.7 | 34° / 20° | 3.2 |
| Mar | 42° / 25° | 2.4 | 44° / 25° | 2.1 | 44° / 29° | 1.9 |
| Apr | 57° / 38° | 0.8 | 57° / 36° | 0.8 | 55° / 38° | 0.5 |
| May | 69° / 50° | 0 | 69° / 47° | 0 | 67° / 48° | 0 |
| Jun | 79° / 60° | 0 | 79° / 57° | 0 | 77° / 58° | 0 |
| Jul | 83° / 65° | 0 | 82° / 62° | 0 | 82° / 65° | 0 |
| Aug | 81° / 63° | 0 | 80° / 60° | 0 | 80° / 64° | 0 |
| Sep | 73° / 54° | 0 | 73° / 51° | 0 | 74° / 56° | 0 |
| Oct | 58° / 41° | 0.1 | 60° / 40° | 0.2 | 61° / 45° | 0 |
| Nov | 42° / 28° | 1.9 | 45° / 29° | 1.0 | 48° / 33° | 0.7 |
| Dec | 29° / 15° | 3.3 | 32° / 18° | 3.2 | 36° / 23° | 2.8 |
NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals, 1991–2020: MINNEAPOLIS/ST PAUL AP (USW00014922, 872 ft); MADISON DANE RGNL AP (USW00014837, 866 ft); MILWAUKEE MITCHELL AP (USW00014839, 670 ft). Snow days are days with at least 1 inch of new snow. “—” means the station does not publish that normal.
Road conditions
Closures and chain rules change by the hour, so we link to the official reports for Minnesota and Wisconsin rather than repeat them.
- Minnesota · MnDOT511MN road conditions
- Wisconsin · WisDOT511 Wisconsin road conditions
Check the official National Weather Service forecast and each state's road report before you leave.
Get alerts timed to where you’ll be when you get there
Road Travel plans the drive from Minneapolis to Milwaukee with the forecast at every stretch for the hour you’ll reach it, then warns you about weather ahead while you drive.
Questions about this drive
How long is the drive from Minneapolis to Milwaukee?
337 miles, about 5 hours of driving without stops, by way of I-94. Fuel, food and rest stops add to that.
What is the highest point on the drive?
On I-94 near Wilson, at 1,264 ft. It comes at mile 55, about 55 min of driving after you leave Minneapolis.
How cold is Milwaukee in January?
The nearest long-term NOAA station, Milwaukee Mitchell (670 ft), averages a high of 31°F and a low of 17°F in January (1991–2020 normals).