This 131.1-mile journey from Algoma, WI to West Allis, WI is easily manageable as a one-day trip, taking approximately 2 hours and 17 minutes. With a fuel cost estimated at $20, it's an economical option for exploring the Midwest. You'll primarily be navigating local roads, as this route has a 0% highway share. Expect a turn-heavy local drive that keeps you engaged without feeling overly demanding. This drive is perfect for those who prefer a more connected-to-the-ground travel experience over high-speed cruising.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
63.7 miles from Algoma, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 31m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 43
76 mi
1h 24m
State Highway 42
28.2 mi
41m
Memorial Drive
4.6 mi
6m
East-West Freeway
3.1 mi
4m
Calumet Avenue
2.1 mi
3m
Lincoln Avenue
2 mi
2m
Milwaukee Street
1.9 mi
2m
Lake Street
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 76 mi, about 1h 24m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Algoma, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on this road
189 ft·14 sec·this road
2
Turn left onto Lake Street
0.2 mi·43 sec·Lake Street
3
Continue on Lake Street
0.2 mi·22 sec·Lake Street
4
At end of road, turn left onto WI 42
224 ft·3 sec·4th Street
5
Continue on WI 42
1.2 mi·1 min·Lake Street
6
Continue on WI 42
9.0 mi·13 min·State Highway 42
7
Continue on WI 42
1.0 mi·1 min·Main Street
8
Continue on WI 42
1.9 mi·2 min·Milwaukee Street
9
Continue on WI 42
19 mi·28 min·State Highway 42
10
Continue on WI 42
2.0 mi·2 min·Lincoln Avenue
11
Turn slight right onto WI 42
0.4 mi·50 sec·WI 42
Use the right lane.
12
Turn left onto WI 42
0.7 mi·1 min·Washington Street
Use the left lane.
13
Continue on WI 42
4.6 mi·6 min·Memorial Drive
Use the straight lane.
14
Enter roundabout onto US 10
110 ft·6 sec·Waldo Boulevard
15
Continue on US 10
1.3 mi·3 min·Waldo Boulevard
Use the straight / right lanes.
16
Turn left onto CTH Q
0.4 mi·49 sec·North 18th Street
Use the left lane.
17
Continue on Revere Drive
0.4 mi·38 sec·Revere Drive
18
Continue on South 21st Street
0.6 mi·1 min·South 21st Street
Use the straight lane.
19
Turn right onto WI 42
0.3 mi·22 sec·Washington Street
20
Continue on WI 42
2.1 mi·3 min·Calumet Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
21
Turn left
0.3 mi·45 sec
Use the left lane.
22
Merge onto I 43
76 mi·1 hr 24 min·I 43
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
23
Take the exit
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 72DToward I 94 West: MadisonUse the straight / slight right lanes.
24
Merge onto I 94
3.1 mi·4 min·East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
25
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 307AToward 68th Street, 70th Street
26
Continue on West O'Connor Street
0.2 mi·29 sec·West O'Connor Street
Use the straight / left / right lanes.
27
Continue on West O'Connor Street
0.4 mi·54 sec·West O'Connor Street
28
Turn left onto South 76th Street
0.8 mi·2 min·South 76th Street
29
Turn left onto WI 59
67 ft·2 sec·West Greenfield Avenue
30
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
Given the short 2-hour and 17-minute duration and 131.1-mile length, this trip offers a lot of flexibility. You can depart any time of day and easily break it up with spontaneous stops. Since there are no long highway stretches, keep an eye on your fuel gauge, especially before heading out, with an estimated fuel cost of $20 for the trip. A good tip for this route is to familiarize yourself with Highway 42, as it will be a significant part of your journey and can sometimes have slower local traffic.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 63.7 miles from Algoma, WI, or about 1h 31m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 76 miles.
This is a comfortable same-day trip.
Departure
Before you leave
Start with fuel, water, and navigation already sorted so the first hour feels easy.
First stop
Around 28 miles or 42m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 63.7 miles or 1h 31m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 17m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Allis, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Algoma, WI so your first major turns are already loaded.
+
Leave with enough water and a charging cable within reach, not packed away.
+
Check your fuel range against the first long segment, especially if you are starting outside city service areas.
Day 1
Settle into the route from Algoma, WI
This is one driving day of about 127.3 miles and 2h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 28 miles from Algoma, WI.
This route can stay practical as a one-day drive if traffic stays reasonable.
Plan about 1 real break rather than only quick fuel stops.
The longest stretch is on I 43 for about 76 miles.
Where to Stop
Rest stops, refuel points, and overnight suggestions along this route.
Place data sourced from public business listings. Hours and availability may vary.
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 15
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.4 and 125.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.4 mi into trip|~1m in|WI 42 / 4th Street
At end of road, turn left onto WI 42 / 4th Street
Navigation decision point
6
35.1 mi into trip|~53m in|WI 42 / Washington Street
Turn left onto WI 42 / Washington Street
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
6
45.5 mi into trip|~1h 11m in
Turn left
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
7
121.9 mi into trip|~2h 36m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West: Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 72D
Toward I 94 West: Madison
6
125.8 mi into trip|~2h 42m in
Take the exit toward 68th Street, 70th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 307A
Toward 68th Street, 70th Street
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$19.90 one way
$39.80 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg45 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$21.85
$43.70
premium
$4.89
$24.50
$49.00
diesel
$5.61
$28.11
$56.21
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$20
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$45–$70
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 44.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $13 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
38.2
0
$13.37
$6.11
Efficient EV
31.8
0
$11.14
$5.09
EV Truck/SUV
50.9
0
$17.82
$8.15
Gas CO2
45 kg
EV CO2
15 kg (67% less)
This trip is well within single-charge range for most EVs. No charging stops needed if you start fully charged.
DC fast charging avg $0.35/kWh. Home charging avg $0.16/kWh. US grid CO2: 0.39 kg/kWh.
Travel Intel
Current conditions at both ends of the drive.
Forecast as of Apr 20, 2026
Origin
Algoma, WI
Late night
in Algoma on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
West Allis, WI
Late night
in West Allis on Tuesday
Local time
3:07 AM
CDT
Current temp
59°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Seasonal Notes
Summer travel usually means heavier construction, hotter rest stops, and busier weekend traffic around major cities.
Winter travel shortens daylight, so a route that looks manageable on paper can feel much longer after dark.
Holiday weekends tend to make both departure and arrival windows slower than the raw route time suggests.
Time zone
Same local time
Origin and destination are on the same clock, so arrival timing is easier to judge at a glance.
Temperature spread
19 degrees warmer at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
2h 47m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
The character of this drive is best described as a turn-heavy local road experience, with absolutely no highway segments. You'll be on roads like Lake Street and 4th Street, transitioning to Highway 42. Given the lack of long stretches of uninterrupted driving, you can anticipate frequent turns and changes in speed. This means you'll be more immersed in the local landscape and community as you travel, rather than simply covering distance on a fast-paced interstate.
85% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
30 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 76 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and State Highway 42. You will hit about 15 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.4 miles in near WI 42 / 4th Street.
Driving Effort6/10
Moderate - straightforward overall, but long enough or busy enough to require pacing
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This drive requires moderate attention. Across 127.3 miles you will encounter 15 spots where lane choice or exit timing matters. Not difficult for experienced highway drivers, but worth previewing the tricky sections before you go.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WI 42 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.1 miles (WI 42 / Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 47m. Total distance: 127.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 47m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (85%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 76 miles on I 43. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
It helps. This route has a higher-than-average number of complex decision points, which get harder in the dark. If the last hour of the trip is on surface roads or mountain grades, aim to arrive at West Allis, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Only with planning. This is a long drive for kids — consider splitting it into two days rather than pushing through. Plan at least 1 meaningful breaks. Dedicated rest areas are limited, so plan gas or food stops as your bathroom breaks.
The main spots that need attention: at 0.4 miles (WI 42 / 4th Street): Navigation decision point; at 35.1 miles (WI 42 / Washington Street): Lane positioning matters here; at 45.5 miles: Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Allis, WI before heading back.
