Origin
Germantown, WI
Morning in Germantown on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
46°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
Trip from Germantown, WI to West Allis, WI
Compiled and reviewed by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy · Last reviewed Apr 19, 2026 · Editorial standards
Drive Time
30m
Distance
18 mi
29 km
Drive Score
8/10
Great drive
Same Day?
Yes, doable
Fuel Cost
$3
one way
EV Charging
Unknown
Best Time to Leave
4 AM
0h 28m
★
6 AM
0h 31m
8 AM
0h 36m
10 AM
0h 33m
12 PM
0h 32m
3 PM
0h 33m
5 PM
0h 36m
8 PM
0h 29m
Estimated drive times based on typical traffic patterns. Actual times may vary with weather, construction, and real-time conditions.
Germantown, WI
Tom Fisk
West Allis, WI
Wikimedia Commons
Trip Overview
Traveling from Germantown to West Allis is a straightforward 20.3-mile trip that typically takes about 26 minutes to complete. Because this journey stays entirely within the Midwest, you will experience a consistent regional feel throughout the drive. It is perfectly suited as a quick day trip, requiring only a single day to reach your destination. With a fuel cost estimate of just $3, this is an incredibly economical route to navigate. Since there are zero planned stops along the way, you can easily complete the drive in one efficient stretch. This route is ideal if you are looking for a practical, low-cost transit between these two Wisconsin locations.
Main Roads
| Road | Distance | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| I 41 | 11.4 mi | 14m |
| Pilgrim Road | 3.2 mi | 7m |
| South 84th Street | 0.7 mi | 1m |
| West Greenfield Avenue | 0.5 mi | 1m |
| Main Street | 0.3 mi | <1m |
| Fond du Lac Avenue | 0.1 mi | <1m |
| Park Avenue | <0.1 mi | <1m |
Longest stretch:
I 41
— 11.4 mi, about 14m
Turn-by-Turn Driving Directions
Step-by-step road directions between Germantown, WI and West Allis, WI.
1
Start on this road
70 ft
·
10 sec
·
this road
2
Turn left onto Park Avenue
128 ft
·
11 sec
·
Park Avenue
3
Turn left onto Main Street
0.3 mi
·
51 sec
·
Main Street
4
Turn right onto WI 145
0.1 mi
·
19 sec
·
Fond du Lac Avenue
5
Turn right onto WI 145
3.2 mi
·
7 min
·
Pilgrim Road
Use the left lane.
6
Take the ramp
0.4 mi
·
56 sec
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
Use the left lane.
7
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
11 mi
·
14 min
·
I 41; US 41; US 45
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
8
Take the exit
0.3 mi
·
33 sec
Exit 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
Use the slight right lane.
9
Keep slight left at fork
0.7 mi
·
1 min
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Use the slight left lane.
10
Keep slight right at fork
0.4 mi
·
46 sec
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
11
Keep slight right at fork
192 ft
·
4 sec
Toward WI 181 South: 84th Street South, Milwaukee Mile Speedway, Pettit National Ice Center
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
12
Turn right onto WI 181
0.7 mi
·
1 min
·
South 84th Street
13
Turn left onto WI 59
0.5 mi
·
1 min
·
West Greenfield Avenue
Use the left lane.
14
Arrive at destination
WI 59
Heads-up: tricky spots
5 of 115 decision points cluster between mile 3.6 and 16.8 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
7
3.6 mi into trip
|
~8m in
Take the ramp toward I 41 South, US 45 South
Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the left lane.
Toward I 41 South, US 45 South
8
15.5 mi into trip
|
~24m in
Take the exit toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 38A-B
Toward I 94 East, I 94 West: Milwaukee, Madison
9
15.8 mi into trip
|
~25m in
Keep slight left at fork toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwaukee
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight left lane.
Exit 38A
Toward I 94 East, I 43 South Alternate: Milwauk...
8
16.4 mi into trip
|
~26m in
Keep slight right at fork toward WI 181: 84th Street
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 306
Toward WI 181: 84th Street
8
16.8 mi into trip
|
~27m 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...
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$2.81 one way
$5.63 round trip
$3.97/gal
25.4 MPG avg
6 kg CO2
| Fuel Type | $/gal | One Way | Round Trip |
|---|---|---|---|
| midgrade | $4.36 | $3.09 | $6.18 |
| premium | $4.89 | $3.46 | $6.93 |
| diesel | $5.61 | $3.97 | $7.95 |
No toll roads detected on this route.
Drive Cost (one way)
Fuel
$3
Estimated CO2 emission: 6.3 kg one way. Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-04-13.
Driving Electric?
About $2 in charging · 0 stops · 67% less CO2
| Vehicle Type | kWh | Stops | DC Fast | Home Charge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Average EV | 5.4 | 0 | $1.89 | $0.86 |
| Efficient EV | 4.5 | 0 | $1.58 | $0.72 |
| EV Truck/SUV | 7.2 | 0 | $2.52 | $1.15 |
Gas CO2
6 kg
EV CO2
2 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.
Destination
West Allis, WI
Morning in West Allis on Sunday
Local time
6:51 AM
CDT
Current temp
47°F
Unavailable
Live forecast
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
1 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
30m 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.
What kind of drive is this?
Expect a turn-heavy local drive rather than a high-speed interstate haul, as this route features a 0% highway share. You will navigate a series of local thoroughfares, including Park Avenue, Main Street, and Fond du Lac Avenue. Because there are no long highway stretches—the longest uninterrupted segment on Park Avenue is 0 miles—you should remain alert for frequent intersections and changing traffic patterns. The personality of this drive is defined by its localized nature and constant movement through municipal areas. You will find that the road demands your full attention as you transition between these specific streets to reach your final destination.
63% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
14 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 11.4 mi on I 41.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 41 and Pilgrim Road. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 3.6 miles in.
Driving Effort
9/10
Focused - lots of decisions in a short distance, but it is over quickly
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a short but busy drive. With 11 decision points packed into just 18 miles, you will need to pay attention to lane changes and exits — but the whole thing is over in 30m.
Where does it get tricky?
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Towns Mentioned on Route Signs
Based on OSRM destination-sign hints, not a full list of every settlement the road passes.
Between Germantown, WI and West Allis, WI, road signs point toward Madison, Milwaukee Mile Speedway and Pettit National Ice Center.
Madison
15.5 mi in
|
~24m
Milwaukee Mile Speedway
16.8 mi in
|
~27m
Pettit National Ice Center
16.8 mi in
|
~27m
Who Is This Route For?
Weekend Trip
Doable as a same-day drive at 30m. Total distance: 18 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 0 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
30m drive, comfortable solo distance.
EV Driver
0 DC fast chargers along the route. Coverage: unknown.
First-Time Driver
Mostly highway driving (63%). Some complex stretches to watch for.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 11.4 miles on I 41. 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 West Allis, WI before sunset when you can. Check the Trip Plan for departure windows that land you in daylight.
Yes. At under 2 hours behind the wheel, this works well for families — plan one quick stop if you have younger kids.
The main spots that need attention: at 3.6 miles: Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.5 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 15.8 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Yes. A round trip is manageable in a single day if you plan a break at West Allis, WI before heading back.
How this page is built
Compiled by the US Trip Planner planning team at COD Solutions Oy from open government datasets — OSRM over OpenStreetMap for geometry, and EIA for fuel prices. See our methodology for refresh cadence and limitations.
Was this helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
Your tip has been submitted. Thanks!
/500
Recent Tips
·
Explore More
Continue From West Allis, WI
More from Germantown, WI
More trips to West Allis, WI
Explore more options from Germantown, WI or browse trips ending in West Allis, WI.
Looking for more statewide routes? Browse WI road trips.