Spanning 309.2 miles across the Wisconsin countryside, this journey from Clayton to Menomonee Falls typically takes about 4 hours and 59 minutes to complete. Because the route is categorized as a turn-heavy local drive, you should prepare for a hands-on experience behind the wheel. Budget approximately $47 for fuel to cover the distance, which is entirely manageable as a single-day trip. Since you will be navigating local roads rather than major interstates, the pace is steady rather than fast. This drive is ideal for those who prefer back-road navigation over the predictability of the highway system.
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
154.4 miles from Clayton, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 3m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
265.7 mi
4h 44m
State Highway 128
15 mi
23m
County Highway P
6.7 mi
11m
20th Street
5.9 mi
10m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
9m
Redford Boulevard
4.5 mi
7m
US 63
1.7 mi
2m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 265.7 mi, about 4h 44m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 72 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~1,910 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,409
Quietest
2 AM
~129 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
14.8×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 52 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 Clayton, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.
1
Start on East Clayton Avenue
232 ft·12 sec·East Clayton Avenue
2
Turn right onto CTH D
0.1 mi·19 sec·County Highway D
3
Turn left onto US 63
1.7 mi·2 min·US 63
4
Turn left onto CTH P
1.6 mi·2 min·County Highway P
5
Continue on CTH P
5.9 mi·10 min·20th Street
6
Continue on CTH P
5.0 mi·8 min·County Highway P
7
Continue on WI 128
5.7 mi·10 min·State Highway 128
8
Continue on WI 128
0.4 mi·48 sec·1st Street
9
Turn right onto WI 128
0.2 mi·24 sec·West Oak Street
10
Continue on WI 128
9.1 mi·13 min·State Highway 128
11
Enter roundabout onto WI 128
158 ft·3 sec·State Highway 128
12
Continue on WI 128
484 ft·9 sec·State Highway 128
13
Enter roundabout
290 ft·5 sec
14
Continue
0.3 mi·38 sec
15
Merge onto I 94
210 mi·3 hr 45 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
56 mi·59 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 295Toward CTH F: Waukesha, SussexUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
188 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
19
Turn left onto CTH F
4.5 mi·7 min·Redford Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on CTH F
1.5 mi·2 min·Waukesha Avenue
21
Turn straight
374 ft·12 sec
22
Turn straight onto CTH F
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V
0.4 mi·54 sec·Town Line Road
24
Enter roundabout onto CTH F
74 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
25
Continue on CTH F
4.6 mi·9 min·West Main Street
26
Turn left onto WI 175
21 ft·0 sec·Appleton Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
WI 175
Trip Plan
Plan for one dedicated stop during your 5-hour trek to break up the technical nature of the local roads. Since the route relies on smaller highways and streets, departing early in the morning is a smart way to navigate the turns with better visibility and less local traffic. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge, as the $47 estimate may fluctuate depending on your vehicle's efficiency on winding, non-highway roads. Given the turn-heavy profile, ensure your tires and alignment are in good shape before heading out. This route offers the flexibility to adjust your pace as needed, so prioritize comfort and safety over maintaining a high average speed.
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 154.4 miles from Clayton, WI, or about 3h 3m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 265.7 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 68 miles or 1h 30m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 154.4 miles or 3h 3m 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 49m
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 Clayton, 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 Clayton, WI
This is one driving day of about 308.8 miles and 5h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 68 miles from Clayton, 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 265.7 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 14
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 296.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CTH D / County Highway D
Turn right onto CTH D / County Highway D
Navigation decision point
5
30.1 mi into trip|~49m in
Enter roundabout
Roundabout - know your exit number before entering
8
240.7 mi into trip|~4h 35m 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
296.2 mi into trip|~5h 35m 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
296.5 mi into trip|~5h 35m 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
$45.60 one way
$91.21 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg108 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$50.34
$100.69
premium
$4.72
$57.33
$114.67
diesel
$4.80
$58.31
$116.61
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$46
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$71–$96
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 108 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $32 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
92.6
1
$32.42
$14.82
Efficient EV
77.2
0
$27.02
$12.35
EV Truck/SUV
123.5
1
$43.23
$19.76
Gas CO2
108 kg
EV CO2
36 kg (67% less)
Plan for 1 charging stop. A 30-minute DC fast charge mid-route should be enough to complete the trip comfortably.
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 Jul 17, 2026
Origin
Clayton, WI
Late night
in Clayton on Sunday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Sunny
SW 10 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:05PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Menomonee Falls, WI
Late night
in Menomonee Falls on Sunday
Local time
4:38 AM
CDT
Current temp
92°F
Chance Showers And Thunderstorms
SW 5 to 10 mph29% chanceLive forecast
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 1:05PM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Duluth MN
Heat Advisory
Heat Advisory issued July 17 at 10:54AM CDT until July 17 at 9:00PM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
5h 58m 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 181
Caution: General Advisory — Flooding Possible
Caution: Averill–Kelly Creek Wilderness Segment — Dangerous Ford at New Wood River
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You will find that this trip lacks any highway driving, as the route is comprised entirely of local roads like County Highway D, County Highway P, and 20th Street. The character of the drive is distinctly turn-heavy, requiring your full attention as you navigate the winding, non-interstate path. Because there is no highway percentage to rely on, the road maintains a consistent, technical feel throughout the entire 309.2-mile stretch. Expect a drive that demands constant engagement rather than the monotonous cruising found on major freeways. It is a true local experience that prioritizes secondary routes over speed.
91% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 265.7 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
5/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 128. You will hit about 14 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CTH D / County Highway D.
Driving Effort5/10
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 308.8 miles you will encounter 14 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: near the start (CTH D / County Highway D): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 240.7 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 5h 58m. Total distance: 308.8 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
5h 58m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (91%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 265.7 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 26 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.
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. There are 26 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CTH D / County Highway D): Navigation decision point; at 30.1 miles: Roundabout - know your exit number before entering; at 240.7 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 6.0 hours each way, a round trip means 12.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Menomonee Falls, WI before the return drive.
