Grantsburg, WI to Wauwatosa, WI is 361 miles and takes about 6h 53m via County Road F, Highway 70, and Highway 35, with a fuel budget near $56 and enough daylight to finish in a day. This drive stays within Wisconsin, moving from the Midwest region to the same region. Expect a trip primarily on surface roads, offering a more grounded perspective of the landscape. With a single recommended day for this route, it's manageable for most drivers looking for a direct connection between these two Wisconsin points.
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
180.5 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
232 mi
4h 9m
US 53
81.4 mi
1h 31m
State Highway 70
38.7 mi
54m
State Highway 35
2.5 mi
4m
West Maple Street
1.6 mi
3m
West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi
2m
Zoo Freeway
0.5 mi
<1m
Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi
<1m
Longest stretch:
I 94
— 232 mi, about 4h 9m
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 Grantsburg, WI and Wauwatosa, 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
64 mi·1 hr 9 min·I 94
Exit 138AToward I 94: MilwaukeeUse the straight / slight right lanes.
17
Take the exit
0.6 mi·1 min
Exit 305A-BToward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
18
Keep slight right at fork
0.8 mi·1 min
Exit 305BToward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du LacUse the slight right lane.
19
Merge onto I 41; US 41; US 45
0.5 mi·44 sec·Zoo Freeway
20
Take the exit
0.2 mi·20 sec
Exit 40A-BToward Watertown Plank RoadUse the slight right lane.
21
Keep slight right at fork
0.1 mi·24 sec
Exit 40AToward Watertown Plank Road EastUse the right lane.
22
Turn straight onto West Watertown Plank Road
0.9 mi·2 min·West Watertown Plank Road
Use the left lane.
23
Continue on Harwood Avenue
0.3 mi·51 sec·Harwood Avenue
Use the straight / right lanes.
24
Turn left onto WI 181
0.2 mi·32 sec·Harmonee Avenue
Use the left / straight lanes.
25
Turn right onto West Menomonee River Parkway
498 ft·21 sec·West Menomonee River Parkway
26
Arrive at destination
West State Street
Trip Plan
Given the 6 hour 53 minute estimated drive time and 361 miles, leaving Grantsburg in the morning is your best bet to arrive in Wauwatosa with ample daylight. Since this is a single-day trip, you'll want to factor in one stop for fuel and a quick break; the $56 fuel cost suggests you'll need to refuel at least once. Keep an eye on your speed as you transition through different towns on County Road F and Highway 70, as speed limits can vary. The lack of highway driving means you'll experience more local traffic and intersections, so stay alert.
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 180.5 miles from Grantsburg, WI, or about 3h 35m into the drive.
The longest continuous stretch on this route runs about 232 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 180.5 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 Wauwatosa, 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 miles and 6h 53m.
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 232 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 18
5 decision points cluster between mile 293.1 and 359.4 — GPS handles the exact turns, but know they're coming. Your lane choice matters more than the turn itself.
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
357.3 mi into trip|~6h 45m in
Take the exit toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
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 305A-B
Toward I 41, I 894, US 45: Chicago, Fond du Lac
9
357.9 mi into trip|~6h 46m in
Keep slight right at fork toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 305B
Toward I 41 North, US 45 North: Fond du Lac
7
359.3 mi into trip|~6h 48m in
Take the exit toward Watertown Plank Road
Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here
Use the slight right lane.
Exit 40A-B
Toward Watertown Plank Road
9
359.4 mi into trip|~6h 49m in
Keep slight right at fork toward Watertown Plank Road East
Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here
Use the right lane.
Exit 40A
Toward Watertown Plank Road East
Fuel & Cost
Regular Gas
$60.22 one way
$120.44 round trip
$4.24/gal25.4 MPG avg126 kg CO2
Fuel Type
$/gal
One Way
Round Trip
midgrade
$4.62
$65.70
$131.41
premium
$5.25
$74.66
$149.32
diesel
$6.28
$89.20
$178.40
No toll roads detected on this route.
Estimated Trip Cost (one way, 1 person)
Fuel
$60
Meals
$25–$50
Total
$85–$110
Rough estimate based on US averages. Hotel $80–$140/night, meals $25–$50/day.
Estimated CO2 emission: 126.3 kg one way.
Prices: EIA weekly data, 2026-10-19.
Driving Electric?
About $38 in charging
· 1 stop
· 67% less CO2
Vehicle Type
kWh
Stops
DC Fast
Home Charge
Average EV
108.3
1
$37.91
$17.33
Efficient EV
90.3
1
$31.59
$14.44
EV Truck/SUV
144.4
1
$50.54
$23.10
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 19, 2026
Origin
Grantsburg, WI
Afternoon
in Grantsburg on Thursday
Local time
3:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
34°F
Mostly Clear
0 mph0% chanceLive forecast
Destination
Wauwatosa, WI
Afternoon
in Wauwatosa on Thursday
Local time
3:32 PM
CDT
Current temp
44°F
Clear
SW 5 mph0% chanceLive forecast
42°F
Blair, WI
181 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
10 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
6h 53m 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 236.5
Park data from the National Park Service API. Alerts update every 2 hours.
More Details
What kind of drive is this?
This drive features 0% highway, meaning you'll be on surface roads for the entire 361 miles. The longest stretch without a significant change in road type isn't specified, but anticipate navigating through various communities. You'll notice the shift from county roads like F to state highways like 70 and 35, with frequent changes in speed limits and scenery as you pass through towns.
98% highway — fuel and pacing are the main things to plan.
26 navigation steps total — most of the decisions cluster near the start and finish.
Longest single stretch: 232 mi on I 94.
How Hard Is This Drive?
9/10
This is a straightforward highway drive that stays mostly on I 94 and US 53. This route has several spots where lane changes, forks, or exits need your full attention. The trickiest moment comes around 293.1 miles in near I 94.
Driving Effort9/10
High effort - long or complex enough to need steady focus all day
Balances navigation complexity with total wheel time.
This is a demanding drive. With 18 significant decision points across 361 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: at 293.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 357.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 357.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
Doable as a same-day drive at 6h 53m. Total distance: 361 miles.
Family Friendly
Moderate complexity with 1 natural rest stops along the way.
Solo Traveler
6h 53m drive, plan rest stops for pacing.
Frequently Asked Questions
The longest stretch is about 232 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 Wauwatosa, 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: at 293.1 miles (I 94): Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here; at 357.3 miles: Exit ramp - move to the correct lane early. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one; at 357.9 miles: Highway fork - watch signs carefully. Lane positioning matters here. Multiple destination signs - pick the right one.
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 6.9 hours each way, a round trip means 13.8 hours of driving — that is an unsafe level of fatigue for most drivers. Plan at least one night at Wauwatosa, WI before the return drive.
