Grantsburg, WI to Menomonee Falls, WI is 361.3 miles and takes about 6h 58m via I 94 and US 53, with a fuel budget near $57 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This route stays within Wisconsin, connecting the Midwest's familiar landscapes. Given its mostly highway profile, expect a straightforward trip focused on covering ground efficiently. It’s a single-day drive, making it a practical choice for reaching your destination without needing an overnight stop.
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
180.7 miles from Grantsburg, WI
A natural place for your longest stop of the day
, about 3h 35m into the drive
.
Main Roads
Road
Distance
Duration
I 94
223.4 mi
3h 59m
US 53
81.4 mi
1h 31m
State Highway 70
38.7 mi
54m
West Main Street
4.6 mi
9m
Redford Boulevard
4.5 mi
7m
State Highway 35
2.5 mi
4m
West Maple Street
1.6 mi
3m
Waukesha Avenue
1.5 mi
2m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 223.4 mi, about 3h 59m
Traffic on I-94
Hour-of-day weekday pattern from 112 FHWA count stations on your route.
Peak
4 PM
~2,145 veh/hr typical
· worst 2,701
Quietest
2 AM
~123 veh/hr
Peak-to-quiet ratio
17.4×
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 Grantsburg, WI and Menomonee Falls, WI.
1
Start on West Wisconsin Avenue
175 ft·9 sec·West Wisconsin Avenue
2
Turn right onto CTH F
0.3 mi·33 sec·County Road F
3
Turn left onto WI 70
15 mi·21 min·State Highway 70
4
Turn left onto WI 35; WI 70
2.5 mi·4 min·State Highway 35
5
Enter roundabout onto WI 70
132 ft·7 sec·State Highway 70
6
Continue on WI 70
23 mi·31 min·State Highway 70
7
Continue on WI 70
1.6 mi·3 min·West Maple Street
8
Continue on WI 70
1.0 mi·1 min·State Highway 70
9
Take the exit
0.4 mi·54 sec
Toward US 53 South: Rice Lake
10
Merge onto US 53
81 mi·1 hr 30 min·US 53
Use the straight lane.
11
Turn straight onto US 53
0.2 mi·20 sec·US 53
Toward US 53 South: Brackett
12
Enter roundabout onto US 53
378 ft·5 sec·US 53
13
Continue on US 53
441 ft·8 sec·US 53
14
Take the ramp
0.5 mi·1 min
15
Merge onto I 94
168 mi·2 hr 59 min·I 94
Use the straight lane.
16
Keep slight left at fork onto I 94
56 mi·59 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.3 mi·31 sec
Exit 295Toward CTH F: Waukesha, SussexUse the straight / slight right lanes.
18
Keep slight left at fork
188 ft·6 sec
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
19
Turn left onto CTH F
4.5 mi·7 min·Redford Boulevard
Use the left / straight lanes.
20
Continue on CTH F
1.5 mi·2 min·Waukesha Avenue
21
Turn straight
374 ft·12 sec
22
Turn straight onto CTH F
1.2 mi·2 min·Main Street
23
At end of road, turn left onto CTH F; CTH V
0.4 mi·54 sec·Town Line Road
24
Enter roundabout onto CTH F
74 ft·4 sec·West Main Street
25
Continue on CTH F
4.6 mi·9 min·West Main Street
26
Turn left onto WI 175
21 ft·0 sec·Appleton Avenue
27
Arrive at destination
WI 175
Trip Plan
To make the most of this 6-hour, 58-minute drive, consider an early morning departure from Grantsburg to avoid potential afternoon traffic. With a fuel cost estimated at $57, it's wise to fill up before leaving or at a convenient stop along the way. The longest stretch is over 200 miles on I 94, so plan for a mid-drive break. Since this is a single-day trip, you have flexibility, but be aware that the drive is primarily highway, so exits are frequent but can be close together.
Morning Departure
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
Evening Departure
This is a long drive — plan for a morning departure or consider splitting it into two days.
You can normally do this drive in one day.
Plan roughly 1 meaningful break for fuel, food, and rest.
The halfway point lands around 180.7 miles from Grantsburg, WI, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 223.4 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 79 miles or 1h 43m in
Use this first pause for coffee, a restroom break, and a quick traffic check ahead.
Halfway reset
Around 180.7 miles or 3h 35m in
This is the best place for your longest stop, a real meal, and a full fuel check.
Final approach
Final hour starts around 5h 44m
Traffic, exits, and arrival timing usually matter more near Menomonee Falls, WI than in the middle of the route.
Before You Leave
+
Open the route before leaving Grantsburg, 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 Grantsburg, WI
This is one driving day of about 361.3 miles and 6h 58m.
Your first comfortable stop window is around 79 miles from Grantsburg, 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 223.4 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 16
5 decision points cluster between mile 0 and 349 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
5
0 mi into trip|~0m in|CTH F / County Road F
Turn right onto CTH F / County Road F
Navigation decision point
5
43.1 mi into trip|~1h 2m in
Take the exit toward US 53 South: Rice Lake
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early
Toward US 53 South: Rice Lake
8
293.1 mi into trip|~5h 35m 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
8
348.7 mi into trip|~6h 35m in
Take the exit toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the straight / slight right lanes.
Exit 295
Toward CTH F: Waukesha, Sussex
7
349 mi into trip|~6h 35m in
Keep slight left at fork toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Toward CTH F North: Waukesha, Sussex
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$49.07 one way
$98.15 round trip
$3.45/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$3.85
$54.76
$109.53
premium
$4.15
$59.03
$118.06
diesel
$3.75
$53.34
$106.68
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$49
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$74–$99
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.4 kg one way.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.4
1
$37.94
$17.34
Efficient EV
90.3
1
$31.61
$14.45
EV Truck/SUV
144.5
1
$50.58
$23.12
Gas CO2
126 kg
EV CO2
42 kg (67% 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 18, 2026
Origin
Grantsburg, WI
Evening
in Grantsburg on Sunday
Local time
6:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
41°F
Mostly Clear
S 10 to 15 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Menomonee Falls, WI
Evening
in Menomonee Falls on Sunday
Local time
6:03 PM
CDT
Current temp
40°F
Clear
SW 10 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
1 degrees cooler at arrival
A meaningful temperature swing is a good cue to rethink layers, water, and how soon you want to arrive.
Road read
6h 58m on the road
Start early — leave by 6-7 AM to arrive at a reasonable hour.
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 236.7
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This trip is 96% highway, meaning you’ll spend most of your time on high-speed interstates and major highways. The longest continuous stretch on the highway is 223.4 miles on I 94. You’ll notice a high density of exits and merging traffic for much of this drive. Surface roads will only become prevalent in the final miles as you approach Menomonee Falls.
96% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
27 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 223.4 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
6/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 53. You will hit about 16 points where you need to pay attention to lane position or signs. The trickiest moment comes early in the drive near CTH F / County Road F.
Driving Effort6/10
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 361.3 miles you will encounter 16 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: near the start (CTH F / County Road F): Navigation decision point; at 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 293.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 58m. Total distance: 361.3 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 58m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 223.4 miles on I 94. The full list of main roads is in the Roads section above.
Yes — we found about 24 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.
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 Menomonee Falls, 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. There are 24 rest areas along the route for bathroom stops.
The main spots that need attention: near the start (CTH F / County Road F): Navigation decision point; at 43.1 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early; at 293.1 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.
Not recommended in a single day. At 7.0 hours each way, a round trip means 14.0 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Menomonee Falls, WI before the return drive.
