Alma, WI to West Allis, WI is 255.1 miles and takes about 4h 54m via State Road 35, North Shore Drive, and South Main Street, with a fuel budget near $40 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, entirely within Wisconsin. You'll be navigating primarily on surface roads for the entire duration. Given the relatively short distance and duration, this is a comfortable one-day drive, perfect for a quick transit between these two points.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is possible, but it will make for a full day on the road.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
Plan on a short reset every 3 to 4 hours to stay fresh behind the wheel.
Midpoint
127.5 miles from Alma, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 33m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 90
132.5 mi
2h 22m
I 94
65.1 mi
1h 10m
State Road 35
28.7 mi
40m
US 53
14.8 mi
18m
State Highway 93
8.2 mi
11m
South Main Street
2.4 mi
3m
North Shore Drive
0.8 mi
1m
South 84th Street
0.7 mi
1m
Longest stretch:
I 90
— 132.5 mi, about 2h 22m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 140 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,390 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,998
Quietest
2 AM
~169 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
20.1×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 weeks of 2023 FHWA Travel Monitoring Analysis System data. Weekday hours only (Mon–Fri).
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Alma, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on WI 35
0.8 mi·1 min·South Main Street
2
Continue on WI 35
15 mi·21 min·State Road 35
3
Continue on WI 35
0.8 mi·1 min·North Shore Drive
4
Continue on WI 35
1.6 mi·2 min·South Main Street
5
Continue on WI 35
13 mi·19 min·State Road 35
6
Continue on WI 93; WI 54
8.2 mi·11 min·State Highway 93
7
Continue on US 53; WI 93
15 mi·18 min·US 53; WI 93
8
Take the exit
0.4 mi·55 sec
9
Merge onto I 90
133 mi·2 hr 22 min·I 90
Use the straight lane.
10
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 306Toward WI 181: 84th StreetUse the slight right lane.
12
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft·4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi·1 min·South 84th Street
14
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi·1 min·West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
15
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
With a drive time of under five hours, leaving Alma, WI in the morning should allow you to reach West Allis, WI well before evening. The route covers 255.1 miles and is estimated to cost around $40 in fuel. Since it's a single-day trip with no prolonged highway stretches, you can be flexible with your single planned stop. Keep an eye on local traffic, especially as you approach more populated areas, as surface road driving can involve more variable conditions than interstate travel.
Morning Departure
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Evening Departure
A late afternoon start means arriving after dark. Morning is better.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 127.5 miles from Alma, WI, or about 2h 33m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 132.5 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 56 miles or 1h 16m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 127.5 miles or 2h 33m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 4h 1m
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 Alma, 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 Alma, WI
This is one driving day of about 255.1 miles and 4h 54m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 56 miles from Alma, 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 90 for about 132.5 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 6
5 decision points cluster between mile 55.3 and 254.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
55.3 mi into trip|~1h 15m in|I 90
Merge onto I 90
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
187.8 mi into trip|~3h 37m in|I 94
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94 toward I 94: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 138A
Toward I 94: Milwaukee
7
252.9 mi into trip|~4h 48m in
Take the exit toward WI 181: 84th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
8
253.8 mi into trip|~4h 50m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwauk...
4
254.5 mi into trip|~4h 52m in|WI 59 / West Greenfield Avenue
Turn left onto WI 59 / West Greenfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$42.55 one way
$85.11 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg89 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.61
$46.25
$92.50
premium
$5.26
$52.82
$105.64
diesel
$6.18
$62.06
$124.12
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$43
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$68–$93
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 89.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-12.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
76.5
0
$26.79
$12.24
Efficient EV
63.8
0
$22.32
$10.20
EV Truck/SUV
102
1
$35.71
$16.33
Gas CO2
89 kg
EV CO2
30 kg (66% less)
Plan for 0 charging stops, roughly every 270 miles. Allow 25-40 minutes per stop at a DC fast charger.
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 Oct 16, 2026
Origin
Alma, WI
Morning
in Alma on Saturday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Chance Rain Showers then Mostly Cloudy
NW 10 to 21 mph63% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:00AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 1:18AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
West Allis, WI
Morning
in West Allis on Saturday
Local time
7:00 AM
CDT
Current temp
53°F
Rain Showers Likely
NW 5 to 20 mph60% chanceLive forecast
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 6:00AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Milwaukee/Sullivan WI
Freeze Warning
Freeze Warning issued October 16 at 1:18AM CDT until October 17 at 9:00AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
50°F
Lodi, WI
128 mi in
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
4 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
4h 54m on the road
An early start around 7-8 AM gets you there with plenty of daylight left.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
National Parks Near This Route
Worth a detour if your schedule allows.
Ice Age National Scenic Trail
National Scenic Trail
The Ice Age National Scenic Trail spans 1,200 miles, traverses some of Wisconsin's finest geologic and glacial features, and passes through the ancestral lands of 15 Tribes. The Trail is built, manage...
25 mi from route
~63 min detour
Free
near mile 131.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This 255.1-mile route is entirely on surface roads, with 0% highway driving. You'll spend the full 4 hours and 54 minutes on local streets and state highways. Expect to encounter the typical flow of traffic associated with surface roads, including potential for slower speeds and more frequent interactions with intersections and local traffic patterns as you make your way across Wisconsin.
86% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
15 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 132.5 mi on I 90.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 90 and I 94. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 55.3 miles in near I 90.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 54m drive. You will face about 6 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 55.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 132.5 miles on I 90. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 22 rest areas or service plazas within a short detour of the route (from OpenStreetMap). See the Rest Stops tab under Nearby Places for locations and mile markers. Plan to stretch, use the bathroom, and top off fluids every 2–3 hours on longer drives.
Yes, with realistic expectations. Build in a stop roughly every 2 hours, have snacks and activities ready, and check the Nearby Places tabs for kid-friendly stops along the way.
The main spots that need attention: at 55.3 miles (I 90): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 187.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 252.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.9 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.8 hours — manageable with a long break at West Allis, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
