This 268.5-mile drive from Colfax, WI to Milwaukee, WI takes about 4 hours and 56 minutes, making it a very manageable one-day trip. You'll primarily be on I-94, with a small portion on State Highway 40 and US 12, keeping you on highways for 99% of the journey. With an estimated fuel cost of $42, it's an affordable way to travel across Wisconsin. This route is a straightforward, highway-focused experience, ideal for getting from point A to point B efficiently. Consider this a solid option if you need to cover ground quickly within the Midwest.
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
134.3 miles from Colfax, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 28m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
257.2 mi
4h 38m
State Highway 40
7.5 mi
10m
US 12
1.3 mi
2m
East-West Freeway
1 mi
1m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
North Milwaukee Street
0.3 mi
<1m
East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 257.2 mi, about 4h 38m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 132 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~3,256 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,814
Quietest
2 AM
~200 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.3×
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 Colfax, WI and Milwaukee, WI.
1
Start on WI 40
0.5 mi·1 min·Main Street
2
Continue on WI 40
7.5 mi·10 min·State Highway 40
3
Turn left onto US 12
1.3 mi·2 min·US 12
4
Turn left
0.4 mi·50 sec
5
Merge onto I 94
187 mi·3 hr 19 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
6
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
71 mi·1 hr 18 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Keep slight left at fork onto I 794
1.0 mi·1 min·East-West Freeway
Exit 310CToward I 794 East: Lakefront, Port of MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.2 mi·24 sec
Exit 1EToward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
9
Turn slight right
309 ft·14 sec
Toward Jackson Street SouthUse the right lane.
10
Turn right onto East Saint Paul Avenue
0.1 mi·24 sec·East Saint Paul Avenue
11
Turn right onto WI 32
0.3 mi·47 sec·North Milwaukee Street
12
Arrive at destination
US 18; WI 32
Trip Plan
For this 4-hour and 56-minute journey, leaving Colfax in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Milwaukee with plenty of daylight. Since the longest stretch without a significant turn is 257.2 miles on I-94, plan for one main stop for fuel and a break around the halfway point. Given the $42 fuel cost, you'll likely only need to refuel once. Keep an eye on your fuel gauge as you approach the 200-mile mark on I-94, as services can sometimes be spread out on interstates.
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 134.3 miles from Colfax, WI, or about 2h 28m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 257.2 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 59 miles or 1h 7m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 134.3 miles or 2h 28m 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 Milwaukee, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Colfax, 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 Colfax, WI
This is one driving day of about 268.5 miles and 4h 56m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 59 miles from Colfax, 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 257.2 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 9
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.7 and 268.1 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
9.7 mi into trip|~14m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
196.2 mi into trip|~3h 34m 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
9
266.9 mi into trip|~4h 53m 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
6
267.8 mi into trip|~4h 54m in
Take the exit toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Exit 1E
Toward Jackson Street, Van Buren Street
5
268.1 mi into trip|~4h 55m in
Turn slight right toward Jackson Street South
Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward Jackson Street South
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$39.65 one way
$79.30 round trip
$3.75/gal25.4 MPG avg94 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.14
$43.77
$87.55
premium
$4.72
$49.85
$99.70
diesel
$4.80
$50.70
$101.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$40
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$65–$90
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 93.9 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-07-13.
Driving Electric?
About $28 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
80.6
0
$28.19
$12.89
Efficient EV
67.1
0
$23.49
$10.74
EV Truck/SUV
107.4
1
$37.59
$17.18
Gas CO2
94 kg
EV CO2
31 kg (67% 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 Jul 18, 2026
Origin
Colfax, WI
Late night
in Colfax on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
68°F
Showers And Thunderstorms
NNW 5 to 10 mph75% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:46AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
Destination
Milwaukee, WI
Late night
in Milwaukee on Sunday
Local time
2:03 AM
CDT
Current temp
77°F
Partly Cloudy
SW 5 to 10 mph3% chanceLive forecast
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:46AM CDT by NWS La Crosse WI
Special Weather Statement
Special Weather Statement issued July 18 at 12:28AM CDT by NWS Twin Cities/Chanhassen MN
60°F
Lodi, WI
134 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
9 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 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 138.9
Park Closure: Janesville Segment — Partial Trail Closure
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a predominantly highway-focused drive, with a 99% highway share. The vast majority of your travel, a solid 257.2 miles, will be on I-94. This means you'll experience long stretches of consistent speed and minimal interaction with local traffic. While not a winding, scenic route, it offers a predictable and efficient path. The character of the drive remains largely consistent, emphasizing forward momentum across the landscape.
99% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
12 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 257.2 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 40. You will hit about 9 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes around 9.7 miles in near I 94.
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 268.5 miles you will encounter 9 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 9.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 266.9 miles (I 794 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Milwaukee is the largest city in the state of Wisconsin, United States. The city celebrates its heritage as a major center for beer-brewing, and of it German and Polish communities. It is now known for its many festivals.
The city's population is about 600,000 with about 1.6 million in the metropolitan area (2019). It is in the southeastern portion of the state on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
Top landmarks
•Milwaukee Art Museum — art museum in Milwaukee, Wisconsin
•Milwaukee City Hall — municipal office in E. Wells St. Milwaukee, United States
•Basilica of St. Josaphat — church building in Milwaukee, United States of America
Doable as a same-day drive at 4h 56m. Total distance: 268.5 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 (99%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 257.2 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 20 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 9.7 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 196.2 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 266.9 miles (I 794 / East-West Freeway): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 Milwaukee, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
