Friendship, WI to New Berlin, WI is 138.7 miles and takes about 2h 46m via I 94, I 39, and State Highway 13, with a fuel budget near $22 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This trip stays within the Midwest, connecting two points in Wisconsin. It's a straightforward drive, predominantly on major highways, making it a practical choice for a quick transfer. Expect a functional, efficient route rather than a scenic detour.
Trip Pace
Same-day drive is realistic
A same-day return is realistic if you keep stops short.
Break Rhythm
1 planned break
A short stop every 2 to 3 hours is enough for this drive.
Midpoint
69.4 miles from Friendship, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 1h 29m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
60.9 mi
1h 5m
I 39
34.1 mi
36m
State Highway 13
23.5 mi
32m
State Highway 16
14.4 mi
19m
South Moorland Road
3.2 mi
6m
Main Street
1.8 mi
4m
West 4th Street
<0.1 mi
<1m
West National Avenue
—
—
Some road-level metrics are being recalculated.
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 60.9 mi, about 1h 5m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Friendship, WI and New Berlin, WI.
1
Start on West 4th Street
152 ft·10 sec·West 4th Street
2
Turn right onto WI 13
1.8 mi·4 min·Main Street
3
Continue on WI 13
23 mi·32 min·State Highway 13
Use the straight lane.
4
Continue on WI 16
14 mi·19 min·State Highway 16
Use the straight / right lanes.
5
Enter roundabout
17 ft·1 sec
6
Continue
0.3 mi·40 sec
7
Merge onto I 39
4.5 mi·4 min·I 39
8
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39
30 mi·31 min·I 39
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
9
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.
10
Take the exit
0.4 mi·56 sec
Exit 301A-BToward I 94 East Alternate: Moorland RoadUse the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
183 ft·4 sec
Toward I 94 Alternate East: New BerlinUse the right lane.
12
Turn straight onto CTH O
3.2 mi·6 min·South Moorland Road
Use the straight lane.
13
Arrive at destination
West National Avenue
Trip Plan
Given the relatively short duration of 2 hours and 46 minutes, departing in the morning or early afternoon allows ample time to reach New Berlin without feeling rushed. With only one recommended stop and a fuel cost estimate of $22, this route is budget-friendly. The longest stretch without a significant break is 60.9 miles on I 94, so plan your last fuel stop before embarking on that segment. Given it's a single-day trip, you have flexibility for an earlier or later departure.
Morning Departure
Leave by 9 AM and you'll arrive before lunch.
Evening Departure
Even a 4 PM departure gets you there before dark in summer.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 69.4 miles from Friendship, WI, or about 1h 29m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 60.9 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 31 miles or 45m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 69.4 miles or 1h 29m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 2h 16m
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 Friendship, 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 Friendship, WI
This is one driving day of about 138.7 miles and 2h 46m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 31 miles from Friendship, 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 60.9 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 8
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 135.5 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
4
0 mi into trip|~0m in|WI 13 / Main Street
Turn right onto WI 13 / Main Street
Navigation decision point
6
44.5 mi into trip|~1h 2m in|I 39
Keep slight right at fork onto I 39
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
74.1 mi into trip|~1h 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
135 mi into trip|~2h 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
135.5 mi into trip|~2h 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
$21.68 one way
$43.37 round trip
$3.97/gal25.4 MPG avg49 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.36
$23.81
$47.62
premium
$4.89
$26.69
$53.38
diesel
$5.61
$30.62
$61.25
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$22
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$47–$72
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 48.5 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $15 in charging
· 0 stops
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
41.6
0
$14.56
$6.66
Efficient EV
34.7
0
$12.14
$5.55
EV Truck/SUV
55.5
0
$19.42
$8.88
Gas CO2
49 kg
EV CO2
16 kg (67% 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.
Forecast as of Apr 15, 2026
Origin
Friendship, WI
Late night
in Friendship on Sunday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Destination
New Berlin, WI
Late night
in New Berlin on Sunday
Local time
5:02 AM
CDT
Current temp
63°F
Unavailable
Live 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
19 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
2h 46m on the road
Use the two city cards together: check the sky where you start, then compare it with the local time and temperature at arrival.
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...
13 mi from route
~32 min detour
Free
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?
This is a highway-focused drive, with 96% of the 138.7 miles on interstates. You'll experience a long stretch of 60.9 miles on I 94. The transition to surface roads will occur near the end of your drive. Given the high percentage of highway driving, anticipate a consistent flow of traffic and numerous exits as you approach your destination.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
13 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 60.9 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
7/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and I 39. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near WI 13 / Main Street.
Driving Effort7/10
Demanding - plan breaks and stay ahead of the key maneuvers
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 8 significant decision points across 138.7 miles, you will need to stay alert - especially through interchange areas and urban stretches. Consider splitting it into segments if you are not comfortable with fast highway navigation.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: near the start (WI 13 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (I 39): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 2h 46m. Total distance: 138.7 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
2h 46m drive, comfortable solo distance.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (96%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 60.9 miles on I 94. 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 New Berlin, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
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: near the start (WI 13 / Main Street): Navigation decision point; at 44.5 miles (I 39): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 74.1 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.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at New Berlin, WI before heading back.
