Ellsworth, WI to West Allis, WI is 287.1 miles and takes about 5h 39m via I 94 and US Highway 10, with a fuel budget near $45 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within Wisconsin, connecting two points in the Midwest. The profile is mostly highway, making it a straightforward drive. With a recommended one-day trip, this route is ideal if you need to get from point A to point B efficiently without much fuss. You'll spend the vast majority of your time on major roads.
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
143.5 miles from Ellsworth, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 1m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
215.6 mi
3h 52m
US Highway 10
61.4 mi
1h 25m
West Main Street
3.7 mi
8m
10th Street
3.3 mi
5m
South 84th Street
0.7 mi
1m
West Greenfield Avenue
0.5 mi
1m
Mondovi Street West
0.4 mi
1m
United States Highway 10
0.2 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 215.6 mi, about 3h 52m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 164 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,887 veh/hr typical
· worst 3,478
Quietest
2 AM
~160 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
18×
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 Ellsworth, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on US 10; US 63
1.5 mi·4 min·West Main Street
2
Continue on US 10; US 63
0.2 mi·24 sec·US Highway 10
3
Take the exit onto US 10
28 mi·39 min·US Highway 10
4
Continue on US 10
0.2 mi·18 sec·United States Highway 10
5
Turn straight onto US 10
14 mi·19 min·US Highway 10
6
Continue on US 10
2.2 mi·4 min·West Main Street
7
Continue on US 10
8.9 mi·12 min·US Highway 10
8
Continue on US 10
0.4 mi·1 min·Mondovi Street West
9
Continue on US 10
10 mi·13 min·US Highway 10
10
Continue on US 10; US 53
3.3 mi·5 min·10th Street
11
Take the ramp
0.3 mi·35 sec
12
Merge onto I 94
151 mi·2 hr 41 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
13
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
65 mi·1 hr 10 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
14
Take the exit
0.9 mi·1 min
Exit 306Toward WI 181: 84th StreetUse the slight right lane.
15
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft·4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice CenterUse the straight / slight right lanes.
16
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi·1 min·South 84th Street
17
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi·1 min·West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
18
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Trip Plan
For this 5-hour, 39-minute drive, an early morning departure is your best bet to maximize daylight and avoid potential afternoon traffic. Since it's a single-day trip, you can be flexible with stops, but consider breaking up the 215.6-mile stretch on I 94 with a brief pause for fuel or a stretch. The estimated fuel cost is $45, so keep an eye on your gauge, especially during that long highway segment. While the route is predominantly highway, be prepared for increased exit activity as you get closer to West Allis.
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 143.5 miles from Ellsworth, WI, or about 3h 1m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 215.6 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 63 miles or 1h 31m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 143.5 miles or 3h 1m 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 40m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near West Allis, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Ellsworth, 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 Ellsworth, WI
This is one driving day of about 287.1 miles and 5h 39m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 63 miles from Ellsworth, 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 215.6 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 69.3 and 286.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
69.3 mi into trip|~1h 41m in|I 94
Merge onto I 94
Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight lane.
8
219.8 mi into trip|~4h 23m 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
284.9 mi into trip|~5h 33m in
Take the exit toward WI 181: 84th Street
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
8
285.8 mi into trip|~5h 35m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwauk...
4
286.5 mi into trip|~5h 37m in|WI 59 / West Greenfield Avenue
Turn left onto WI 59 / West Greenfield Avenue
Lane positioning matters here
Use the left lane.
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$47.89 one way
$95.78 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg101 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$52.25
$104.51
premium
$5.25
$59.38
$118.75
diesel
$6.28
$70.94
$141.88
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$48
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$73–$98
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 100.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $30 in charging
· 1 stop
· 66% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
86.1
1
$30.15
$13.78
Efficient EV
71.8
0
$25.12
$11.48
EV Truck/SUV
114.8
1
$40.19
$18.37
Gas CO2
100 kg
EV CO2
34 kg (66% 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 Oct 19, 2026
Origin
Ellsworth, WI
Late night
in Ellsworth on Thursday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
43°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
West Allis, WI
Late night
in West Allis on Thursday
Local time
5:28 AM
CDT
Current temp
66°F
Sunny
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
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
23 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
5h 39m 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 158.4
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive is almost entirely on highways, with 97% of the route utilizing major roads like I 94 and US Highway 10. You'll experience a long stretch of 215.6 miles on I 94, which means you'll encounter many exits and interchanges as you traverse the landscape. The transition to surface streets will occur as you approach your destination, with West Main Street likely being one of the final segments before arrival. Expect a consistent cruising speed for most of your travel.
97% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
18 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 215.6 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
4/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US Highway 10. There are only a few real navigation decisions along the way. The trickiest moment comes around 69.3 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort4/10
Easy - simple navigation with a manageable amount of wheel time
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a straightforward 5h 39m 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 69.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here.
The longest stretch is about 215.6 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.
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 69.3 miles (I 94): Merge point - match speed before joining. Lane positioning matters here; at 219.8 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 284.9 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. 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 5.7 hours each way, a round trip means 11.3 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at West Allis, WI before the return drive.
