Origin
Butler, WI
Late night in Butler on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Butler, WI to Wauwatosa, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
13m
Distance
7.1 mi
11 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$1
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 12m
★
6 AM
0h 14m
8 AM
0h 16m
10 AM
0h 14m
12 PM
0h 14m
3 PM
0h 14m
5 PM
0h 16m
8 PM
0h 13m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Butler, WI
Tom Fisk
Wauwatosa, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
If you are planning to travel between Butler and Wauwatosa, you are looking at a quick 7.1-mile trip that typically takes about 13 minutes. Because of the short distance, this route is perfectly suited for a single-day excursion. You will navigate using a combination of the Zoo Freeway, West Watertown Plank Road, and Hampton Avenue. Budgeting is straightforward, as you can expect to spend roughly $1 on fuel for the entire journey. This drive provides a simple, efficient connection within the Midwest, making it an ideal choice for commuters or those running local errands. You won't need to worry about overnight logistics given the brevity of the trip.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| Zoo Freeway | 3.8 mi | 5m |
| West Watertown Plank Road | 1.1 mi | 2m |
| Hampton Avenue | 0.4 mi | 1m |
| Harwood Avenue | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Harmonee Avenue | 0.2 mi | <1m |
| West Menomonee River Parkway | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| North 126th Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
| West Stark Street | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
Zoo Freeway
— 3.8 mi, about 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Butler, WI and Wauwatosa, WI.
1
Start on West Stark Street
313 ft
·
13 sec
·
West Stark Street
2
Turn right onto North 126th Street
383 ft
·
13 sec
·
North 126th Street
3
Turn left onto CTH KK
0.4 mi
·
1 min
·
Hampton Avenue
4
Take the ramp
0.3 mi
·
38 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
5
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
3.8 mi
·
5 min
·
Zoo Freeway
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
6
Take the exit
0.2 mi
·
30 sec
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork
0.5 mi
·
1 min
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
8
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
1.1 mi
·
2 min
·
West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
9
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
10
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi
·
32 sec
·
Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
11
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft
·
21 sec
·
West Menomonee River Parkway
12
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 85 decision points cluster between mile 0.1 and 6.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0.1 mi into trip
|
~0m in
|
North 126th Street
Turn right onto North 126th Street
Navigation decision point
5
0.9 mi into trip
|
~2m in
|
I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
7
4.7 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
8
4.9 mi into trip
|
~7m in
Keep slight left at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight left / slight right lanes.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
6
6.8 mi into trip
|
~12m in
|
WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Turn left onto WI 181 / Harmonee Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left / straight lanes.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$1.11 one way
$2.22 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
3 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $1.22 | $2.44 |
| premium | $4.89 | $1.37 | $2.73 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $1.57 | $3.14 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$1
Estimated CO2 emission: 2.5 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $1 in charging · 0 stops · 50% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 2.1 | 0 | $0.75 | $0.34 |
| Efficient EV | 1.8 | 0 | $0.62 | $0.28 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 2.8 | 0 | $0.99 | $0.45 |
Gas CO2
2 kg
EV CO2
1 kg (50% 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
Wauwatosa, WI
Late night in Wauwatosa on Sunday
Local time
3:13 AM
CDT
Current temp
76°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
S 10 mph
32% chance
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
29 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
13m on the road
The weather snapshot is not static. If you are leaving later, give both cities one more quick forecast check before departure.
Weather data from the National Weather Service. Conditions may change; check closer to your travel date.
What kind of drive is this?
This 7.1-mile path offers a mixed driving experience, balancing highway speeds with local road navigation. Approximately 55% of your journey will be spent on the highway, specifically utilizing the Zoo Freeway. You will encounter your longest uninterrupted stretch here, covering 3.8 miles of the drive. As you transition off the freeway onto West Watertown Plank Road and Hampton Avenue, the pace of the trip shifts to accommodate local traffic patterns. Behind the wheel, you can expect a functional drive that moves quickly from the suburban feel of Butler into the heart of Wauwatosa.
55% highway, the rest on surface roads — varied driving throughout.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 3.8 mi on Zoo Freeway.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This route mixes highway mileage with some local-road sections near the start or finish. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 0.1 miles in near North 126th Street.
Driving Effort
7/10
Focused - busy navigation packed into a short drive
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 8 decision points packed into just 7.1 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 13m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 0.1 miles (North 126th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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.
On the drive from Butler, WI to Wauwatosa, WI, road signs begin pointing toward Watertown Plank Road East along the way.
Watertown Plank Road East
4.9 mi in
|
~7m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 13m. Total distance: 7.1 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
13m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (55%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 3.8 miles on Zoo Freeway. 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 Wauwatosa, 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 0.1 miles (North 126th Street): Navigation decision point; at 0.9 miles (I 41; US 41; US 45 / Zoo Freeway): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 4.7 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at Wauwatosa, 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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