Day trips

The 8 Best Day Trips from Milwaukee

Drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan for every place worth the trip.

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There are 8 good day trips from Milwaukee, United States, led by Chicago, Kenosha, Waukegan. The closest is Waukesha, about 40 min by car, and 2 of them fit into half a day. Below: drive times, distances, what to see, and a sample day plan.

Day trips from Milwaukee at a glance

Destination	Distance	Drive time	Best as
Chicago	134 km S	2 hr 5 min	Full-day trip
Kenosha	51 km S	1 hr	Half-day trip
Waukegan	75 km S	1 hr 25 min	Full-day trip
Evanston	112 km S	1 hr 45 min	Full-day trip
Schaumburg	113 km S	1 hr 45 min	Full-day trip
Bolingbrook	150 km S	2 hr 20 min	Long day or overnight
West Ridge	117 km S	1 hr 50 min	Full-day trip
Waukesha	27 km W	40 min	Half-day trip

Drive times are estimates from the distance. Check live traffic before you leave.

The best day trips from Milwaukee

1
Chicago, United States
Full-day trip
About 2 hr 5 min by car134 km south of Milwaukee4 hr 10 min round trip
Known for 360 Chicago.
Also nearby: Naperville, West Town, Near North Side, Cicero, Belmont Cragin, South Lawndale, Logan Square.
2
Kenosha, United States
Half-day trip
About 1 hr by car51 km south of Milwaukee2 hr round trip
3
Waukegan, United States
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 25 min by car75 km south of Milwaukee2 hr 50 min round trip
4
Evanston, United States
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 45 min by car112 km south of Milwaukee3 hr 30 min round trip
5
Schaumburg, United States
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 45 min by car113 km south of Milwaukee3 hr 30 min round trip
6
Bolingbrook, United States
Long day or overnight
About 2 hr 20 min by car150 km south of Milwaukee4 hr 40 min round trip
7
West Ridge, United States
Full-day trip
About 1 hr 50 min by car117 km south of Milwaukee3 hr 40 min round trip
8
Waukesha, United States
Half-day trip
About 40 min by car27 km west of Milwaukee1 hr 20 min round trip

A sample day trip: Milwaukee to Chicago

A realistic pace for Chicago, 134 km from Milwaukee. Packy AI builds this for any place on the list, with a route, opening hours and timings you can edit.

07:30Leave Milwaukee
09:35Arrive in Chicago (2 hr 5 min drive)
09:50360 Chicago
11:50Lunch
13:05Explore the old town, markets and cafes of Chicago
15:35Head back to Milwaukee
17:40Home in Milwaukee

Good to know

Frequently asked questions

What are the best day trips from Milwaukee?: The best day trips from Milwaukee are Chicago, Kenosha, Waukegan, Evanston, Schaumburg. The closest is Waukesha, about 40 min away by car.
What is the closest day trip from Milwaukee?: Waukesha is the closest, 27 km west of Milwaukee, roughly 40 min by car. Best as a half-day trip.
Where can I go within an hour of Milwaukee?: 2 places are within about an hour's drive of Milwaukee: Waukesha (40 min), Kenosha (1 hr).
What is the biggest city near Milwaukee for a day out?: Chicago is the largest city in day-trip range, 134 km south of Milwaukee and about 2 hr 5 min by car. With that much to see, start early or stay the night.
How far is too far for a day trip from Milwaukee?: Up to about two hours each way keeps the day relaxed. The farthest place on this list is Bolingbrook at 150 km, around 2 hr 20 min by car, which is better as a long day or an overnight stay.

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