Written by the Pharaoh’s Transportation dispatch team, 5151 S Howell Ave, Milwaukee, in business since 2016; every chauffeur is background-checked, licensed and insured.
Quick answer: A private ride from O’Hare to the North Woods takes about 5.5 to 6 hours to Minocqua or Rhinelander and about 6 hours to Eagle River, usually on I-90 to Madison, I-39 north through Wausau and US-51. From MKE it’s about 4 to 4.5 hours. Pharaoh’s Transportation drives you door to door to your lake house, resort or cabin in a premium SUV or Sprinter, with flight tracking and planned stops for lunch and groceries.
Heading up north?
Book your drop-off from O’Hare, Midway or MKE with an upfront price.
In this guide
- The trip at a glance
- The route north
- Stops on a six-hour ride
- The right vehicle for a lake trip
- Timing by season
- Drop-off at the lake house, resort or cabin
- Why a private ride beats renting a car
- Quick facts
- Frequently asked questions
- About the dispatch team
The trip at a glance
| From | To | Typical drive |
|---|---|---|
| O’Hare | Rhinelander | About 5.5 to 6 hours |
| O’Hare | Minocqua and Woodruff | About 5.5 to 6 hours |
| O’Hare | Eagle River and the Chain of Lakes | About 6 hours |
| Midway | North Woods towns | Add about 30 to 45 minutes for the drive across Chicago |
| MKE or downtown Milwaukee | North Woods towns | About 4 to 4.5 hours |
Typical times in normal traffic from route planners; summer Fridays, holiday weekends, deer season and snow add time.
Flying in for a lake-house week?
Tell us your flight and the lake address. We track your flight and drive you all the way north.
The route north
From O’Hare, the fastest route usually runs northwest on I-90 to Madison, then north on I-39 through Stevens Point and Wausau, and on US-51 toward Minocqua and Woodruff. Rhinelander and Eagle River branch off on state highways for the last stretch. From Milwaukee, the drive joins the same corridor heading north. For the Wausau and Stevens Point part of the trip, see O’Hare to Wausau and Stevens Point.
| Leg | Roads | Typical time from O’Hare |
|---|---|---|
| O’Hare to Madison | I-90 | About 2 hours |
| Madison to Wausau | I-39 | About 2 hours |
| Wausau to Minocqua or Rhinelander | US-51 and state highways | About 1 to 1.5 hours |
| On to Eagle River | State highways | About 30 more minutes from Rhinelander |
Stops on a six-hour ride
- A coffee stop around Madison or the Wisconsin Dells exits.
- Lunch in Stevens Point or Wausau, about two-thirds of the way.
- Groceries and supplies in Minocqua, Rhinelander or Eagle River before you reach a lake house; many cabins are a long way from stores.
Tell dispatch your stops when you book so the timing and price account for them.
The right vehicle for a lake trip
| Group | Vehicle | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 1 to 6 travelers | Chevy Suburban or Cadillac Escalade | Room for luggage, fishing gear and a cooler |
| 7 to 13 | Executive Sprinter | Comfortable for six hours, with room to move |
| 7 to 14 | Ford Transit van | Good value for families and friend groups |
| Up to 15 | Mercedes-Benz Sprinter | Everyone and every bag in one vehicle |
See our fleet; for groups, read about our Executive Sprinter service.
Timing by season
| Season | What to expect |
|---|---|
| Summer (Memorial Day to Labor Day) | Peak lake season; heavy traffic north on Fridays and south on Sundays |
| Fall color (late September to mid-October) | Busy weekends and early sunsets; land by early afternoon |
| Deer and hunting season (November) | More deer on rural roads at dawn and dusk |
| Winter (snowmobiling and ice fishing) | Snow can slow the last legs; we watch the forecast and adjust pickup |
Drop-off at the lake house, resort or cabin
We drive you door to door: lake homes on the Minocqua chain, resorts and cabins around Eagle River’s Chain of Lakes, family places outside Rhinelander, or a resort in Woodruff or Three Lakes. Lake roads can be gravel, unmarked or hard to find at night, so send the exact address, any fire number and gate or driveway directions when you book.
Our North Woods service is a drop-off service from O’Hare, Midway, MKE, Milwaukee and Chicago. Our fleet and chauffeurs are based in Milwaukee, so we focus on trips that start in the Milwaukee and Chicago areas.
Why a private ride beats renting a car
| Rental car | Pharaoh’s SUV or Sprinter | |
|---|---|---|
| After a flight | You drive 5 to 6 hours | You rest, work or sleep |
| Night arrival | Unlit rural roads, deer | A professional chauffeur |
| Gear | Pack it yourself | Room for luggage, coolers and fishing gear |
| Groups | Two or three cars | One Sprinter |
| End of the trip | Return the car to the airport | Nothing to return |
Long-distance trips are our specialty; see O’Hare long-distance service and Milwaukee long-distance car service.
Book your North Woods drop-off
Upfront price at booking, flight tracking and one chauffeur for the whole drive.
Quick facts
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| O’Hare to Minocqua | About 5.5 to 6 hours |
| O’Hare to Rhinelander | About 5.5 to 6 hours |
| O’Hare to Eagle River | About 6 hours |
| MKE to the North Woods | About 4 to 4.5 hours |
| Main route | I-90, I-39, US-51 |
| Vehicles | Suburban, Escalade, Sprinters, 14-passenger van |
| Service type | Drop-off from O’Hare, Midway, MKE, Milwaukee and Chicago |
| Book | pharaohstransportation.com/book-online or (414) 322-3751 |
Frequently asked questions
How long is the drive from O’Hare to Minocqua?
About 5.5 to 6 hours in normal traffic, via I-90, I-39 and US-51.
How far is Eagle River from O’Hare?
About 6 hours by car; Eagle River is a little farther than Rhinelander and Minocqua.
How long from O’Hare to Rhinelander?
About 5.5 to 6 hours in normal traffic.
Is Midway or O’Hare better for the North Woods?
O’Hare is usually faster; Midway adds 30 to 45 minutes to cross Chicago.
How long from Milwaukee to Minocqua?
About 4 to 4.5 hours from MKE or downtown Milwaukee.
Can we stop for lunch and groceries?
Yes. Tell dispatch when you book and we’ll plan stops in Wausau, Minocqua or Rhinelander.
Can you find a lake house with no street sign?
Send the address, fire number and directions; our chauffeurs plan the last miles before the trip.
What vehicle fits a family with fishing gear?
A Suburban or Escalade fits up to 6 with gear; a Sprinter or 14-passenger van fits larger groups.
Do you drive in winter?
Yes, with an eye on the forecast; we may move pickup earlier when snow is coming.
What if my flight is delayed?
We track your flight and adjust the pickup time.
Do you pick up in the North Woods?
Our North Woods service is a drop-off service from the Milwaukee and Chicago areas, where our fleet is based.
How do I book?
Book online or call (414) 322-3751 with your flight and the lake address. Your price is confirmed at booking.
About the dispatch team
This guide was written by the Pharaoh’s Transportation dispatch team, which books rides across Wisconsin and Chicagoland every day. Pharaoh’s Transportation is a top-rated Milwaukee limo and car service with its office and fleet at 5151 S Howell Ave, Suite D1 & D2, Milwaukee, WI 53207, 2 minutes from MKE. Pharaoh’s also operates two divisions, Milwaukee to O’Hare (milwaukeetoohare.com) and Wisconsin Limo Service (wisconsinlimoservice.com), with the same office and dispatch team. Our fleet includes Chevy Suburbans and Cadillac Escalades, a Mercedes-Benz Sprinter, an Executive Sprinter and a 14-passenger van. Reservations: (414) 322-3751. Drive times are typical estimates from route planners.
Ready to book your trip up north?
Flight tracking, upfront pricing and 24/7 dispatch. Upfront price, flight tracking, 24/7 dispatch.
