Colfax, WI to New Berlin, WI is 260.8 miles and takes about 4h 47m via I 94 and State Highway 40, with a fuel budget near $41 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Wisconsin. With 98% of the drive on highways, expect a fairly direct path. This route is well-suited for a single-day excursion, offering a straightforward connection between these two locations without requiring an overnight stay.
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
130.4 miles from Colfax, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 2h 24m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
247.4 mi
4h 25m
State Highway 40
7.5 mi
10m
South Moorland Road
3.2 mi
6m
US 12
1.3 mi
2m
Main Street
0.5 mi
1m
West National Avenue
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 247.4 mi, about 4h 25m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 132 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,036 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,579
Quietest
2 AM
~122 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
16.7×
busier at peak than in the quiet hours
12a6anoon6p11p
Averaged across 104 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 New Berlin, 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
61 mi·1 hr 5 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
7
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 301A-BToward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Keep slight right at fork
183 ft·4 sec
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New BerlinUse the right lane.
9
Turn straight onto CTH O
3.2 mi·6 min·South Moorland Road
Use the straight lane.
10
Arrive at destination
West National Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the 4-hour 47-minute drive time, consider leaving Colfax, WI in the morning to arrive in New Berlin, WI by afternoon. The longest stretch of 247.4 miles means you can cover significant ground before needing a break. Plan for your single stop to coincide with a fuel need, as the estimated cost is around $41. With 98% of the route on highways, watch for the transition to State Highway 40 and then South Moorland Road as you get closer to New Berlin, as this marks the end of high-speed cruising.
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 130.4 miles from Colfax, WI, or about 2h 24m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 247.4 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 57 miles or 1h 5m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 130.4 miles or 2h 24m 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 53m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near New Berlin, 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 260.8 miles and 4h 47m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 57 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 247.4 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 7
5 decision points cluster between mile 9.3 and 257.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
9.3 mi into trip|~13m in
Turn left
Navigation decision point
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
7
257.1 mi into trip|~4h 39m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 301A-B
Toward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland Road
7
257.5 mi into trip|~4h 40m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New Berlin
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$43.50 one way
$87.01 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg91 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$47.47
$94.94
premium
$5.25
$53.94
$107.87
diesel
$6.28
$64.44
$128.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$44
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$69–$94
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 91.2 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $27 in charging
· 0 stops
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
78.2
0
$27.38
$12.52
Efficient EV
65.2
0
$22.82
$10.43
EV Truck/SUV
104.3
1
$36.51
$16.69
Gas CO2
91 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Colfax, WI
Late night
in Colfax on Thursday
Local time
5:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
ESE 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
New Berlin, WI
Late night
in New Berlin on Thursday
Local time
5:55 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 0 to 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
55°F
Lodi, WI
130 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
Very similar conditions
Both ends of the route are sitting at about the same temperature right now.
Road read
4h 47m 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
~64 min detour
Free
near mile 134.9
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
You'll spend nearly all your time on the highway, with 98% of the 260.8-mile trip on high-speed roads. The longest continuous stretch is 247.4 miles, primarily on I 94. State Highway 40 and South Moorland Road will take you the remaining miles. Expect a steady pace with frequent exits as you approach your destination.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
10 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 247.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and State Highway 40. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 9.3 miles in.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 4h 47m drive. You will face about 7 decision points, but nothing that requires special attention if you follow navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 9.3 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
The longest stretch is about 247.4 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.
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 9.3 miles: Navigation decision point; 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.
Yes — Ice Age National Scenic Trail. See the National Parks section for detour distances and tips on detours.
Possible but tiring. At 4.8 hours each way, an in-and-out day trip would put you behind the wheel for 9.6 hours — manageable with a long break at New Berlin, WI, but most travelers stay overnight.
