Connecting Bloomer to Menomonee Falls, this 263.6-mile journey across Wisconsin typically takes about 4 hours and 56 minutes. Given the duration, you can easily complete this trek in a single day, making it an efficient way to cross the state. You should budget approximately $36 for fuel to cover the distance. Because this is a highway-focused drive, you will spend the vast majority of your time on major routes like I-94 and US-53. Whether you are traveling for business or a weekend visit, the straightforward nature of this route makes it a practical choice for those who prefer to keep their travel time predictable.
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
131.8 miles from Bloomer, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 25m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
223.4 mi
3h 59m
US 53
25.9 mi
29m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
9m
Redford Boulevard
4.5 mi
7m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Main Street
1.2 mi
2m
17th Avenue
0.6 mi
1m
Town Line Road
0.4 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 223.4 mi, about 3h 59m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Bloomer, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.
1
Start on WI 40; CTH F
22 ft·0 sec·Main Street
2
Turn slight right onto WI 40; CTH Q
0.6 mi·1 min·17th Avenue
3
Continue on WI 40
0.3 mi·38 sec·State Highway 40
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·51 sec
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
5
Merge onto US 53
25 mi·28 min·US 53
6
Turn straight onto US 53
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 53
Toward US 53 South: Brackett
7
Enter roundabout onto US 53
378 ft·5 sec·US 53
8
Continue on US 53
441 ft·8 sec·US 53
9
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
10
Merge onto I 94
168 mi·2 hr 59 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
11
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
56 mi·59 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 295Toward CTH F: Waukesha, SussexUse the straight / slight right lanes.
13
Keep slight left at fork
188 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
14
Turn left onto CTH F
4.5 mi·7 min·Redford Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
15
Continue on CTH F
1.5 mi·2 min·Waukesha Avenue
16
Turn straight
374 ft·12 sec
17
Turn straight onto CTH F
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
18
At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V
0.4 mi·54 sec·Town Line Road
19
Enter roundabout onto CTH F
74 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
20
Continue on CTH F
4.6 mi·9 min·West Main Street
21
Turn left onto WI 175
21 ft·0 sec·Appleton Avenue
22
Arrive at destination
WI 175
Trip Plan
To keep your drive smooth, plan for at least one stop to break up the nearly five-hour duration. Leaving early in the morning is your best bet to avoid potential congestion on the busiest sections of the interstate. Since the route is heavily weighted toward highway travel, stay alert during the long 223.4-mile stretch on I-94 where monotony can set in. Keep your $36 fuel budget handy, but remember that prices may fluctuate depending on exactly where you choose to pull off for your break. Flexibility is a major advantage here, as the lack of technical roads allows you to adjust your pace easily based on how you feel behind the wheel.
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 131.8 miles from Bloomer, WI, or about 2h 25m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.4 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 58 miles or 1h 6m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 131.8 miles or 2h 25m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 3h 55m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Menomonee Falls, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Bloomer, 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 Bloomer, WI
This is one driving day of about 263.6 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 58 miles from Bloomer, 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 94 for about 223.4 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 12
5 decision points cluster between mile 0.9 and 251.3 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.9 mi into trip|~2m in
Turn left toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
Navigation decision point
Toward US 53 South: Eau Claire
5
27 mi into trip|~32m in|US 53
Enter roundabout onto US 53
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
195.4 mi into trip|~3h 33m 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
8
251 mi into trip|~4h 32m in
Take the exit toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 295
Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
7
251.3 mi into trip|~4h 33m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$41.21 one way
$82.42 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg92 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$45.25
$90.50
premium
$4.89
$50.73
$101.45
diesel
$5.61
$58.20
$116.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$41
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$66–$91
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 92.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
79.1
0
$27.68
$12.65
Efficient EV
65.9
0
$23.07
$10.54
EV Truck/SUV
105.4
1
$36.90
$16.87
Gas CO2
92 kg
EV CO2
31 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 Apr 18, 2026
Origin
Bloomer, WI
Night
in Bloomer on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
65°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
Menomonee Falls, WI
Night
in Menomonee Falls on Saturday
Local time
9:51 PM
CDT
Current temp
49°F
Mostly Sunny
W 15 to 20 mph1% chanceLive forecast
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 6:43AM CDT until April 20 at 10:00AM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
Flood Warning
Flood Warning issued April 18 at 6:40AM CDT until April 18 at 7:00PM CDT by NWS Green Bay WI
64°F
Adams, WI
132 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
16 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
4h 56m 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 136.4
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Caution: Skunk and Foster Lakes Segment — Storm Damage
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a high-speed experience, as 95% of this route consists of highway driving. You will spend the bulk of your time on I-94, which accounts for a single, uninterrupted 223.4-mile stretch that defines the character of the trip. While the transition from US-53 to the interstate keeps the drive moving quickly, the experience is largely defined by the steady rhythm of major thoroughfares. You will navigate through the heart of the Midwest, trading local streets like West Main Street for long, consistent miles on the pavement. It is a functional, no-nonsense drive that prioritizes speed and efficiency over winding backroads.
95% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
22 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 223.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 53. You will hit about 12 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 0.9 miles in.
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 263.6 miles you will encounter 12 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 195.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 263.6 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
4h 56m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (95%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 223.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
We did not find dedicated rest areas on this route. For a drive this long, plan bathroom and stretch breaks around gas stations, fast-food stops, or small-town downtowns — check the Nearby Places section for options.
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 Menomonee Falls, 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 0.9 miles: Navigation decision point; at 27 miles (US 53): Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 195.4 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. 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 9.9 hours — manageable with a long break at Menomonee Falls, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
