Origin
Big Bend, WI
Night in Big Bend on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Big Bend, WI to Milwaukee, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
34m
Distance
24.1 mi
39 km
Drive Score
6/10
Good drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$4
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 32m
★
6 AM
0h 35m
8 AM
0h 40m
10 AM
0h 37m
12 PM
0h 36m
3 PM
0h 37m
5 PM
0h 40m
8 PM
0h 33m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Big Bend, WI
Tom Fisk
Milwaukee, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
This straightforward 24.1-mile drive from Big Bend to Milwaukee, Wisconsin, can be completed in about 34 minutes, making it an ideal day trip. You'll spend most of your time on major highways, with an estimated fuel cost of just $4. The route is entirely within the Midwest and Wisconsin, offering a convenient connection between these two points. With no planned stops and a short duration, this trip is best suited for a quick transit or a leisurely exploration of Milwaukee upon arrival.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 43 | 9.8 mi | 11m |
| East-West Freeway | 5.7 mi | 8m |
| Zoo Freeway | 3.7 mi | 5m |
| Big Bend Drive | 1.8 mi | 3m |
| US 45 | 0.6 mi | <1m |
| Clark Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| North Milwaukee Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| East Saint Paul Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 43
— 9.8 mi, about 11m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Big Bend, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on Jackson Parkway
30 ft
·
7 sec
·
Jackson Parkway
2
Turn left onto Maple Avenue
519 ft
·
24 sec
·
Maple Avenue
3
Turn right onto WI 164
0.3 mi
·
45 sec
·
Clark Street
4
Continue on WI 164
1.8 mi
·
3 min
·
Big Bend Drive
5
Take the ramp
0.2 mi
·
29 sec
Toward I 43 North
6
Merge onto I 43
9.8 mi
·
11 min
·
I 43
Use the straight / slight left lanes.
7
Take the exit onto US 45
0.6 mi
·
55 sec
·
US 45
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
8
Merge onto I 41; I 894; US 41; US 45
3.7 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the slight right lane.
9
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
16 sec
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Use the slight right lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 1A
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
Use the slight right lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Merge onto I 94
4.7 mi
·
6 min
·
East-West Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi
·
1 min
·
East-West Freeway
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
24 sec
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
15
Turn slight right
309 ft
·
14 sec
Toward Jackson Street South
Use the right lane.
16
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi
·
24 sec
·
East Saint Paul Avenue
17
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi
·
47 sec
·
North Milwaukee Street
18
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 155 decision points cluster between mile 12.2 and 22.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
6
12.2 mi into trip
|
~16m in
|
US 45
Take the exit onto US 45 toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fond du Lac, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 61
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North, I 894 West: Fon...
8
16.5 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Take the exit toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1B-A
Toward I 94 West, I 94 East: Madison, Milwaukee
8
16.7 mi into trip
|
~22m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 1A
Toward I 94 East: Milwaukee
6
17.4 mi into trip
|
~23m in
Keep slight left at fork
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
22.4 mi into trip
|
~31m in
|
I 794 / East-West Freeway
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794 / East-West Freeway toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 310C
Toward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of Milwaukee
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$3.77 one way
$7.54 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
8 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $4.14 | $8.27 |
| premium | $4.89 | $4.64 | $9.28 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $5.32 | $10.64 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$4
Estimated CO2 emission: 8.4 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $3 in charging · 0 stops · 63% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.53 | $1.16 |
| Efficient EV | 6 | 0 | $2.11 | $0.96 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 9.6 | 0 | $3.37 | $1.54 |
Gas CO2
8 kg
EV CO2
3 kg (63% 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.
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Night in Milwaukee on Saturday
Local time
11:20 PM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
22 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
34m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
The majority of this drive, 82% to be exact, is on highways, including stretches of I-43, the East-West Freeway, and the Zoo Freeway. Expect a highway-focused experience with limited scenic detours. The longest uninterrupted stretch you'll encounter is 9.8 miles on I-43, offering a consistent pace. This route is designed for efficient travel rather than a winding scenic journey, keeping you moving steadily towards your destination.
82% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 9.8 mi on I 43.
How Hard Is This Drive?
10/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 43 and East-West Freeway. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 12.2 miles in near US 45.
Driving Effort
10/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 15 decision points packed into just 24.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 34m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Big Bend, WI and Milwaukee, WI, road signs point toward Madison and Port Of Milwaukee.
Madison
12.2 mi in
|
~16m
|
via US 45
Port Of Milwaukee
22.4 mi in
|
~31m
|
via I 794
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 34m. Total distance: 24.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
34m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (82%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 9.8 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 Milwaukee, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 12.2 miles (US 45): Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 16.7 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Milwaukee, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
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